Quality of life assessment of patients with and without venous ulcer

cross-sectional study with a sample of 204 patients with chronic venous disease. The quality of life was assessed with the help of the SF-36 questionnaire. To compare the scores between the groups, the Mann-Whitney test was used, considering a statistically significant difference when p<0.05.

RESULTS:

the quality of life score of patients with ulcer was lower when compared to that of patients without ulcer, in all domains and dimensions of the SF-36, particularly in the domains physical aspect and functional capacity, with very low scores.

CONCLUSION:

all aspects of quality of life were more compromised in people with ulcers. These findings can contribute towards a better understanding of the effects of chronic venous disease on the quality of life and towards a better orientation of therapeutic interventions in this population.

Quality of Life; Varicose Ulcer; Leg Ulcer; Venous Insufficiency; Nursing

Sociodemographic and health characteristics		Type of patient				p-value
		With venous ulcer		Without venous ulcer
		n	%	n	%
Sex						0.054
	Female	69	33.8	83	40.7
	Male	31	15.2	21	10.3
Age range						0.009
	As from 60 years	55	27.0	39	19.1
	Up to 59 years	45	22.1	65	31.9
Marital status						0.361
	Single/widowed/divorced	38	18.6	36	17.6
	Married/fixed partner	62	30.4	68	33.3
Education						0.007
	Up to primary education	83	40.7	70	34.3
	Secondary and higher education	17	8.3	34	16.7
Profession/occupation*						0.018
	Present	56	27.5	74	36.3
	Absent	44	21.6	30	14.7
Income						0.025
	<1 Minimum wage	76	37.3	91	44.6
	≥1 Minimum wage	24	11.8	13	6.4
Chronic Conditions						0.006
	Present	60	29.4	43	21.1
	Absent	40	19.6	61	29.9
Sleep						0.314
	<6 hours	25	12.3	22	10.8
	≥6 hours	75	36.8	82	40.2
Total		100	49.0	104	51.0

Quality of life domains and dimensions	With venous ulcer (N=100) Mean (SD*)	Without venous ulcer (N=104) Mean (SD*)	p-value
Functional Capacity	14.85 (20.21)	38.51 (29.40)	<0.001
Physical Aspect	4.75 (16.16)	29.09 (42.97)	<0.001
Pain	33.97 (27.44)	45.83 (23.38)	0.001
General Health Status	36.01 (15.69)	44.21 (18.44)	0.002
Vitality	42.25 (23.91)	50.58 (24.54)	0.016
Social Aspects	27.38 (24.29)	62.08 (29.89)	<0.001
Emotional Aspects	32.00 (45.92)	57.37 (48.82)	<0.001
Mental Health	55.84 (24.58)	70.88 (21.71)	<0.001
Physical Health Dimension	26.24 (13.71)	41.61 (21.68)	<0.001
Mental Health Dimension	38.68 (19.52)	57.01 (21.30)	<0.001

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

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[1] Corresponding Author: Gilson de Vasconcelos Torres Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Enfermagem Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000 Bairro: Lagoa Nova CEP: 59078-970, Natal, RN, Brasil E-mail: gilsonvtorres@hotmail.com

Brasil

Brasil

Quality of life assessment of patients with and without venous ulcer1 1 Supported by Coordenação de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil, process # 2279/11

OBJECTIVES:

METHOD:

RESULTS:

CONCLUSION:

Quality of life assessment of patients with and without venous ulcer¹ 1 Supported by Coordenação de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil, process # 2279/11