Disability Levels and Cognitive Functioning Reported by Patients Impaired by Gentamicin and Other Aminoglycosides

• Main Author: Ann M. Kerlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-05-01
• Series: SAGE Open
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017709323

The purpose of this study was to explore disability levels and cognitive functioning in patients who reported being damaged by aminoglycosides, a class of antibiotic drugs. An online questionnaire was published using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) and the NeuroQol Cognitive Functioning v.2. Gentamicin was the most frequent cause of impairment in patients, and the overall disability level was moderate (46.05%). Severe impairments were reported in mobility (Getting Around: 53.67%), Life Activities (60.20%), and Participation in Society (55.19%), and the NeuroQol Cognitive Function measure was approximately 1 standard deviation below normal. Participants who reported impairment from gentamicin and other aminoglycosides indicate a diminished quality of life, along with accompanying depression and anxiety.