Areas of Concern, Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 255 - 263
• Main Authors: Hallin, A., Bergqvist, D., Fugl-Meyer, K., Holmberg, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - physiopathology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - psychology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - therapy; Carotid Stenosis - physiopathology; Carotid Stenosis - psychology; Carotid Stenosis - therapy; Extremities - blood supply; Extremities - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Intermittent Claudication - physiopathology; Intermittent Claudication - psychology; Intermittent Claudication - therapy; Ischemia - physiopathology; Ischemia - psychology; Ischemia - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - physiopathology; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - psychology; Peripheral Vascular Diseases - therapy; Quality of Life - psychology; Quality of life, Life satisfaction, Peripheral vascular disease, Carotid artery stenosis, Aortic aneurysm abdominal, Intermittent claudication, Lower limb ischaemia; Recovery of Function - physiology; Quality of life, Life satisfaction, Peripheral vascular disease, Carotid artery stenosis, Aortic aneurysm abdominal, Intermittent claudication, Lower limb ischaemia
• ISSN: 1078-5884; 1532-2165
• DOI: 10.1053/ejvs.2002.1647

Objectives: to explore the ways in which peripheral vascular disease subjectively affect patients and to relate these findings to validated measurements of quality of life (QOL) and life satisfaction. Design: a cross-sectional study. Subjects: eighty patients, with carotid artery stenosis (CAS), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischaemia (CLI). Methods: semi-structured interviews were used to explore the effect of the disease on the patients life situation. QOL was assessed by SF-36 and life satisfaction by LiSat-11. Results: the SF36, LiSat-11 and our interview revealed two principal patterns: one for patients with CAS and AAA, and one for patients with IC and CLI. The interview revealed important areas affecting the vascular patient. Some of these areas: higher intellectual function, concern, sexual function, family concern and factors related to the operated areas were not covered by either the SF36 or the LiSat-11. Conclusions: for a full understanding of how peripheral vascular disease affects the individual, disease specific questions need to be added to generic QOL instruments and measurements of life satisfaction.