Pacientes con isquemia crítica de extremidades inferiores: impacto del tratamiento en la calidad de vida

Abstract

Summary Objective To assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI) and its modification after three types of therapies. Patients and methods From January to December 2000, 195 patients were admitted to our department with the diagnosis of CLI. Only patients receiving first therapy for their episode of CLI were selected and they proposed the realization of test QoL (SF-36) to the admission and to the 6 months of follow-up. 52 patients (36 men, 16 women), were recruited, mean age 68 years (r= 38-90). The type of received treatment divided in three groups (group I: revascularization, group II: major amputation, group III: conservative treatment). These groups were compared by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results To admission, patients with CLI present a poor QoL in all the dimensions. There were 30 patients in the group I, 6 in the group II and 16 in the group III without existing significant differences in these three groups as for sex, age, associate pathologies and QoL to the admission. When comparing the QoL in the several groups to 6 months, only there were significant differences in the dimension of physical function. The mean were inferior in the group of major amputation. Conclusion Independently of the received treatment, in all the patients with CLI the therapy improves the QoL, in particular the physical and emotional rol. Only in amputated patients there's no improvement of the physical function.