Quality of life profile and correlated factors in chronic leg ulcer patients in the mid-west of São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

BACKGROUNDChronic leg ulcer may have an impact on patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to identify the impact of leg ulcers on patient's quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index and to define the main factors correlated with this perception. METHODCross-sectional, non-probabilistic sampling study. We included patients with chronic leg ulcers being treated for at least 3 months. A sociodemographic and clinical survey was conducted to assess the profile of the ulcers. We administered a screening for depressive symptoms and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test for categorical data, Pearson for numeric variables, and multiple regression for categorical data. RESULTSForty-one patients were assessed. Their mean age was 61.78 years. Venous ulcers (48.8%) were the most prevalent. Seventy-three percent of the sample perceived no impact/low impact on quality of life in the past week, and 26.8% perceived moderate/high impact. A multiple regression analysis identified the causes of lesion, pain related to the ulcers, time of onset, and severity of the depressive symptoms as the variables that had an influence on quality of life. CONCLUSIONSThe majority of the sample perceived low or no impact of the condition on the quality of the life. The variables etiology of the lesion (p<0.001), pain related to the ulcers (p=0.001), time of onset (p=0.006), and severity of the depressive symptoms (p<0.001) had an influence on the quality of life, suggesting the need for further studies with more robust designs to confirm the causal relationship between these characteristics and quality of life.

Depression and quality of life in patients with chronic wounds: ways to measure their influence and their effect on daily life

“…27 In general, regarding numerous other publications 15,28 about this topic (Table 1), at least about 30% of all patients in chronic wound populations seem to suffer from manifest depression and/or anxiety, sometimes even higher, if only depressive symptoms are recorded. This is 3 times more than the rate of depression diagnosed in persons without wound-healing problems in normal population.…”

“…The DLQI can be used for over 33 different (skin) diseases and is available in 32 countries and 55 languages. 15 The DLQI may be used for routine clinical use. There is no special permission or charge for its use in this context, but a requirement to reprint a copyright statement on the used DLQI.…”

“…Etiology of the wounds was independent of existence of depressive symptoms in the investigation of Zhou and Jia. 29 Wachholz et al 15 screened Brazilian patients with chronic leg ulcers via the DLQI and the QIDS-SR16. Etiology of the lesion, presence of pain related to the ulcer, time of onset (ulcer duration) and severe depressive symptoms were strongly related to reduction in QoL.…”

Exploring the influence of a cooling treatment on quality of life in patients with chronic venous disease

“…It is well recognized that lower QOL is prevalent in individuals with CVD. [1][2][3]16,24 The symptoms of burning, swelling, pain, heaviness, and achiness lead to ongoing disability and impaired function in daily activities. 16 However, recent research of nonpharmacological options is limited for the self-management of CVD symptoms that would augment established standard of care that includes compression and leg elevation.…”

“…[1][2][3] CVD is caused by venous hypertension that develops from perforator vessel and valvular incompetence, which lead to other anomalies of the venous vasculature, including varicosities, swelling, skin damage, and leg ulcers. 4 Individuals with CVD report a myriad of symptoms such as pain, throbbing, itchiness, achiness, and heaviness.…”