title: Comparison of quality-of-life measures after radial versus femoral artery access for cardiac catheterization in women: Results of the Study of Access Site for Enhancement of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Women quality-of-life substudy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the SAFE-PCI for Women trial, patient preference for radial access for future procedures was greater than for femoral access. We sought to assess whether radial or femoral access impacts formal measures of quality-of-life (QOL) among women undergoing cardiac catheterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed QOL using European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) and EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) scores among 304 women randomized to radial or femoral arteriotomy in the SAFE-PCI for Women trial at sites with QOL substudy approval. Patient surveys were administered at baseline, hospital discharge, and 30 days (for percutaneous coronary intervention patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women randomized to both treatments had similar EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS scores at baseline, hospital discharge, and 30-day follow-up. After adjustment for baseline scores, there was no effect of assigned treatment on EQ-5D (discharge 0.004; 95% CI -0.03 to 0.04; 30 days -0.03; 95% CI -0.09 to 0.02) or EQ-VAS (discharge -1.31; 95% CI -4.74 to 2.12; 30 days -2.10; 95% CI -8.92 to 4.71) scores. At discharge, 60.5% versus 63.5% (P = .60) of patients in radial and femoral groups were free from access site pain; at 30 days, rates were 85.7% versus 77.6% (P = .30), respectively. Patient preference for the same access strategy for repeat procedures was greater in the radial versus femoral group (77.2% vs 26.8%; P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using established QOL instruments, we did not measure any difference in QOL or functional status according to access site strategy in women undergoing cardiac catheterization, yet patient preference for the radial approach was significantly greater. Other factors influencing patient choice for radial access should be investigated.
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC. Electronic address: connie.hess@duke.edu.
authors: Connie N
authors: CN
authors: Hess
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: Mitchell W
authors: MW
authors: Krucoff
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: Shubin
authors: S
authors: Sheng
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Anstrom
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: W Britt
authors: WB
authors: Barham
authors: Heart & Vascular Institute, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.
authors: Ian C
authors: IC
authors: Gilchrist
authors: Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Harrington
authors: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors: Alice K
authors: AK
authors: Jacobs
authors: Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors: Roxana
authors: R
authors: Mehran
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO.
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: Messenger
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: Daniel B
authors: DB
authors: Mark
authors: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC.
authors: Sunil V
authors: SV
authors: Rao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017534:Radial Artery; D012307:Risk Factors