Factors influencing health-related quality of life among patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in South Korea: a cross-sectional survey study

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Korean patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 130 outpatients diagnosed with NTM-PD at Pusan National University Hospital between August and November 2023. Data were obtained using validated questionnaires assessing symptom experience, illness uncertainty, health-promoting behaviors, and HRQoL. Clinical characteristics were extracted from medical records. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis performed with SPSS version 27.0. Results: The mean physical and mental HRQoL scores were 46.82 ± 6.33 and 43.95 ± 11.42, respectively, both significantly lower than the population norm of 50. Physical HRQoL was negatively associated with symptom experience (B = −0.48, p < .001) and illness uncertainty (B = −0.08, p = .004), with these variables explaining 40%–53% of the variance. Mental HRQoL was adversely affected by symptom experience (B = −0.89, p < .001) and illness uncertainty (B = −0.15, p = .001), while positively associated with health-promoting behaviors (B = 0.15, p = .001), family cohabitation (B = 4.93, p = .045), and obesity status (B = 9.24, p = .004). Together, these factors explained 53–55% of the variance in mental HRQoL. Conclusion: HRQoL in patients with NTM-PD is significantly impaired and influenced by multiple factors. Evidence-based nursing interventions should emphasize symptom management, reduction of illness uncertainty, promotion of health-promoting behaviors, and strengthening of family support systems to optimize patient outcomes and overall well-being.