Quality of Life Among Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients who have Undergone Endovascular or Surgical Revascularization: A Case-control Study

Abstract

Objectives To assess the quality of life (QoL) of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients who have undergone either percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) only and/or one or more surgical revascularizations. Design A postal questionnaire study in which a case-control methodology was applied. Materials and methods 131 patients with PTAs (mean age 70.7, SD 10.4 yrs; range 39–89, 58% men) and 100 with surgical revascularizations (mean age 67.8, SD 10.4 yrs; range 43–91, 62% men), in 1998–2003, and their age- and gender-matched controls were studied. The mean time since the last revascularization for PTA was 2.7, SD 1.3 yrs and for operated patients 3.5, SD 1.8 yrs. Ankle–brachial pressure index (ABI) and Mini-Mental-State Examination (MMSE) score were obtained from 70% of the patients. QoL was assessed using 15D Health-related QoL instrument, Rand-36 Physical Functioning subscale, 6-item Brief Social Support Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Self-reported Life Satisfaction (LS) score, and one ‘perceived state of health’ question. Results Patients after endovascular and/or surgical revascularization (most with ABIs 0.5–0.89 and without cognitive impairment), had similarly lower QoL, GDS and LS indicated more depression than their controls. Conclusion Poor QoL and depression should be thoroughly considered, alongside proper follow-up and ABI-measurements.