Long-term survival and health-related quality of life of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
BACKGROUND
the outcome of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) patients is most frequently measured as operative or in-hospital mortality rate. However, survival alone is not an indicator of quality of the treatment. Assessment of quality of life (QoL) is used increasingly and is a relevant measure of outcome.


OBJECTIVE
to assess long-term survival and QoL of patients undergoing repair of RAAA.


METHODS
follow-up study with cross-sectional QoL evaluation.


METHODS
between 1996 and 2000, 199 of 220 patients with RAAA underwent surgery. Survivors were sent the generic the RAND 36-item Health Survey (RAND-36) self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
total hospital mortality and operative mortality were 103 of 220 (47%) and 82 of 199 (41%). Of the 117 initial survivors, 21 were deceased at the time of the study. When compared to an age- and sex-adjusted general population, only physical functioning was significantly impaired (p=0.01) in the 82 of 93 (88%) RAAA survivors who responded.


CONCLUSIONS
survivors after repair of RAAA had almost the same QoL as the norms of an age- and sex-adjusted general population, justifies an aggressive operative policy in RAAA.
Korhonen
S J
SJ
Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, HUCH, Finland.
Kantonen
I
I
Pettilä
V
V
Keränen
J
J
Salo
J A
JA
Lepäntalo
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors