title: Quality of life psychosocial characteristics in Greek patients with leg ulcers: a case control study.
abstract: Chronic leg ulcers are a public health problem that can have a significant impact on the patient's physical, socioeconomic and psychological status. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and loneliness in patients suffering from leg ulcers. A total of 102 patients were enrolled in the study. The quality of life, anxiety and depression, self-esteem and loneliness of the patient were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (RSES) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3), respectively. The mean DLQI score was 13·38 ± 2·59, suggesting a serious effect on the quality of life of patients. Those with leg ulcers had statistically significant higher scores according to the HADS-total scale (P = 0·031) and HADS-anxiety subscale (P = 0·015) compared with healthy volunteers. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups concerning the UCLA-scale (P = 0·029). Female patients presented with a higher score of anxiety (P = 0·027) and social isolation (P = 0·048), and worse quality of life (P = 0·018) than male patients. A severe quality of life impairment was documented, reflecting a significant psychosocial impact on patients with leg ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece. kouris2007@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anargyros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kouris
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, 'Attikon' University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Themis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sgontzou
authors.affiliation: Department of Wound Healing, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karypidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontochristopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liordou
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zakopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wound Healing Unit, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eftychia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zouridaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Leg ulcer; Psychosocial characteristics; Quality of life