title: Health-related quality of life at healing in individuals with chronic venous or mixed-venous leg ulceration: a longitudinal assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life in community-dwelling individuals with venous or mixed-venous leg ulcers.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Most care focuses primarily on healing; this research may additionally lead to strategies to improve quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from four studies (2000-2009) were combined (2012) to examine quality of life in community-dwelling individuals referred for care of chronic leg wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection occurred at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months or at healing and included a comprehensive clinical assessment and measures of pain (McGill), functional autonomy (EQ-5D™) and quality of life (SF-12TM). Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores (SF-12TM) were categorized by whether or not there was an improvement (≥3 points) over time. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of this sample (n = 519) was 67·5 years, 55·9% were women. Median time to healing was 70 days. Mean Physical Component Summary score increased from 37·0-41·5; factors associated with improvement included independent mobility, family history, problems with usual activities, fewer comorbidities and higher baseline pain. Mean Mental Component Summary score improved from 50·5-53·7; factors associated with improvement included anxiety or depression at baseline and living with others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic leg ulceration has a substantial, negative impact on health-related quality of life. Ascertaining characteristics associated with changes in quality of life will contribute to the development of comprehensive strategies for prevention, care and improved quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. hopmanw@kgh.kari.net.|Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. hopmanw@kgh.kari.net.
authors.forename: Wilma M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (cross-appointment), School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Vandenkerkhof
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Meg E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carley
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: 
  HRQOL
  ; SF-12; chronic wounds; community and home care; healing; health-related quality of life; leg ulcers; longitudinal; quality of life