title: Long-term survival and health-related quality of life of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, HUCH, Finland.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kantonen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pettilä
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keränen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
mesh_terms: 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