In patients receiving home parenteral nutrition, affiliation with a national support or educational organization was associated with which outcomes compared with nonaffiliated controls?

• A. Higher quality of life, fewer depressive symptoms, and a lower incidence of catheter-related sepsis.
• B. No differences in quality of life, mood, or infection rates.
• C. Worse quality of life and higher catheter-related infections.
• D. No differences in any clinical outcomes.

Answer: (A)

Engagement with a national support or educational organization provides patients on home parenteral nutrition with more access to reliable information, practical guidance, and peer support, which helps them manage the therapy more effectively and cope with the psychosocial burden. This combination tends to improve overall quality of life and reduce depressive symptoms because patients feel more confident and less isolated. At the same time, better education and support often lead to stricter adherence to catheter care protocols and more timely recognition of problems, which lowers the risk of catheter-related infections, including sepsis. Taken together, affiliation is associated with higher quality of life, fewer depressive symptoms, and a lower incidence of catheter-related sepsis compared with nonaffiliated controls. Options suggesting no differences or worse outcomes don’t fit this pattern.