Quality of life among lower extremity peripheral arterial disease patients who have undergone endovascular or surgical revascularization: a case-control study.

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.