Health-related quality of life in patients with chronic leg ulcers in a developing country

Abstract

Poverty with inadequate care prolongs duration of ulcers healing with attendant complications. The impact of this on the quality of life of patients in an economic depleted environment needs to be evaluated. Quality of life of patients with chronic leg ulcers was assessed using validated Cardiff wound impact schedule questionnaires in two teaching Hospitals in Nigeria. The result was analyzed using SPSS Version 17 with frequencies and means. Post traumatic ulcers were the most common cause of chronic leg ulcers (33.7%), followed by diabetes mellitus (31.3%),venous ulcers (16.9%), and sickle cell ulcers (4.8%). Tropical ulcers and others like vasculitis and chronic osteomyelitis accounted for 13.3%. The ulcers have deleterious effects on the patients’ occupation, finances, mobility and social interaction with negative self-image. All the symptoms assessed significantly correlated with overall quality of life (QoL). However, physical symptoms dimension is the most highly correlated with QoL score, followed by social life dimension. The least correlated is wellbeing dimension. Symptoms associated with chronic leg ulcer tend to have negative impact on quality of life of these patients. Therefore, these should be borne in mind and incorporated in the management of these patients.