Quality of Life Predictors in Patients with Acute Lower Limb Ischemia Quality of Life in Acute Limb Ischemia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Publication Title

Annals of vascular surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While existing literature has established factors associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, similar work has not been done in individuals with acute lower limb ischemia (ALLI). This study aims to identify the factors associated with HRQOL in patients presenting with ALLI.

METHODS: Using a prospectively collected registry, all patients who received treatment for ALLI between May 2016 and July 2023 at a quaternary medical center were identified and invited to complete two HRQOL questionnaires: the Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire-6 (VascuQoL-6) and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L). Simple linear regression followed by multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression were used to determine the patient variables independently associated with HRQOL.

RESULTS: Of the 216 eligible patients treated for ALLI during the study period, 47 (20%) of patients with a mean age of 58 ± 10 years completed the HRQOL questionnaires. Questionnaires were completed at a median time of 16.5 months after the episode of ALLI. On multiple linear regression, higher age was associated with higher VascuQoL-6 (P = 0.037) and EQ-5D-5L (P = 0.041) scores, while hypertension and nonambulatory status were significant predictors of lower VascuQoL-6 (P = 0.006, P = 0.013) and EQ-5D-5L (P = 0.009, P = 0.026) scores. Any ambulation had a significantly higher HRQOL compared to nonambulatory status, but no significant HRQOL difference was observed between patients with any type of ambulation (unhindered ambulation, ambulation with pain, and ambulation using a prosthesis).

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the ability to ambulate after ALLI, and not amputation per se, is an important predictor of HRQOL. As such, early rehabilitation strategies should be a focus of post-ALLI care. Further exploration of factors that shape HRQOL after ALLI is needed.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Quality of Life; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Ischemia; Aged; Registries; Lower Extremity; Time Factors; Acute Disease; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Treatment Outcome; Functional Status; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function

PubMed ID

39343359

Volume

110

Issue

Pt A

First Page

137

Last Page

143

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