Background and Aims: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-sustaining therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure who cannot meet their nutritional needs enterally. Portable infusion pumps allow HPN to be administered safely at home, improving mobility and independence. However, their effect on quality of life (QoL) remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated QoL in adults receiving HPN with portable infusion pumps at home. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 102 adults receiving HPN with portable infusion pumps. Data were collected between September 2020 and December 2025 through outpatient clinics and a patient support group. Instruments included the WHOQOL-BREF and an author-designed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Pearson correlations were applied. Results: Overall QoL was moderate. WHOQOL-BREF scores were higher in the physical and psychological domains and lower in the social relationships and environmental domains. Most patients reported that portable pumps improved mobility, independence, and the ability to perform daily and social activities, including travel. Pump-related factors were positively associated with self-reported health status and overall QoL (p < 0.05). The main burdens were nocturnal infusions, sleep disturbances, and prolonged infusion duration. Metabolic complications and unplanned hospitalizations were infrequent and were not associated with pump usability. Conclusions: Portable infusion pumps may improve QoL in most patients receiving HPN by enhancing daily functioning and independence. Further optimization of pump-related factors may improve patient well-being, although some patients may not benefit from pump use. Clinical Relevance Statement: In adults receiving home parenteral nutrition, portable infusion pumps may improve daily functioning, independence, mobility, and participation in social and work-related activities. However, overall quality of life remains affected by treatment burden, particularly nocturnal infusions and prolonged infusion duration. These findings suggest that, in addition to selecting an appropriate infusion device, optimizing pump-related treatment factors may help improve patient-centered outcomes in home parenteral nutrition.
Perliński et al. (Thu,) studied this question.