title: Pain and health-related quality of life in people with chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous leg ulceration is associated with pain and poor health-related quality of life (HRQL). The purpose of this study was to identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with pain and decreased HRQL in patients with active venous ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data were combined from two trials that took place between 2001 and 2007 (n = 564). Pain was measured using the Numeric Pain Scale (NPS), and HRQL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Survey 12-item Short Form (SF-12), which generates a Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Analyses included logistic and linear regression (for pain and HRQL, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 66.5 years; 47% were male. Median NPS score was 2.2 (out of 10) and mean PCS and MCS scores were 38.0 and 50.5, respectively (scores are standardized to a mean of 50 representing average HRQL). Younger age, living with others, and arthritis were associated with pain. Poorer PCS was associated with being female, venous/mixed ulcer etiology, larger ulcers, longer ulcer duration, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and higher pain intensity. Poorer MCS was associated with younger age, longer ulcer duration, comorbidity and higher pain intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research is needed to test strategies to reduce pain and possibly improve HRQL in high risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. hopmanw@kgh.kari.net
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: VanDenKerkhof
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: HRQL; Medical Outcomes Survey 12-item Short Form; SF-12; chronic; health-related quality of life; leg ulcers; pain