title: Physical function, pain, quality of life and life satisfaction of amputees from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake: A prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the development and determinants of long-term outcomes for earthquake victims with amputations, including physical function, pain, quality of life and life satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study with 2-3 measurement points.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 72 people who underwent amputations following the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake and resided in Mianzhu County, Sichuan Province, China were enrolled in the study. Of these, 27 people were lost to follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on pain (visual analogue scale) and physical function (Barthel Index) were collected at 3 measurement points (2009, 2010 and 2012), and data on quality of life (Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36) and life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11) were collected at 2 measurement points (2010 and 2012). Data were analysed with mixed effects regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain severity declined significantly and physical function increased by 2012. Quality of life and life satisfaction remained relatively stable between 2010 and 2012, while quality of life was significantly lower than reference values from the general population. Illiteracy and lower extremity amputations were associated with lower quality of life and life satisfaction in several domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While amputees' functioning and pain were improved over time, quality of life and life satisfaction did not change. Illiterate earthquake survivors and those with lower extremity amputations are at particular risk of low quality of life and life satisfaction, and may require additional attention in future earthquake rehabilitation programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennycott
authors.forename: Zhengen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xianmen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jianan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult