title: Health-related quality of life after deep vein thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is known to be impaired in patients who develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) following deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, there is limited knowledge of the long-term HRQoL after DVT compared to controls without DVT. The objectives of this study were to evaluate long-term HRQoL following DVT and to compare that with age and sex matched control group and to population norms as well as to investigate possible predictors for reduced HRQoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQoL was evaluated in 254 patients with confirmed DVT using the generic EQ-5D and the diseases specific VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire, whereas PTS was assessed by the Villalta scale. Patients were asked to give the EQ-5D questionnaire to two friends of same age- (±5 years) and sex (buddy controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients scored significantly lower on all dimensions of EQ-5D compared to controls. EQ-5D index value was lower in patients compared with buddy controls; mean 0.79 (SD 0.17; IQR 0.72-1.00) versus 0.9 (SD 0.12; IQR 0.80-1.00), p < 0.001. EQ-5D index value was also significantly lower than age- and sex-adjusted population norms (p < 0.001). PTS and obesity (BMI >30/m(2)) were significantly associated with impaired HRQoL assessed by EQ-5D index value (odds ratio [OR] 11.0: 95 % confidence interval [CI] 4.6-29.7; and 2.3: 95 % CI 1.1-4.8, respectively) and VEINES-QOL (OR 28.2: 95 % CI 10.6-75.0; and OR 4.1: 95 % CI 1.7-9.7, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term HRQoL was significantly impaired in DVT patients compared with buddy controls and population norms. PTS and obesity were independently associated with impaired HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Kalnes, Norway ; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ; Department of Haematology, Østfold Hospital Trust, Postbox 300, 1714 Grålum, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin Kornelia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1274-6446
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Utne
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Kalnes, Norway ; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ; Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mazdak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavoly
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hilde Skuterud
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Wik
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Kalnes, Norway ; Department of Health Science, Østfold University College, Fredrikstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars Petter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Jelsness-Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Kalnes, Norway ; Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ; Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Per Morten
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sandset
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Kalnes, Norway ; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ghanima
keywords: Controls; Deep vein thrombosis; EQ-5D-3L; HRQoL; Population norms; VEINES-QOL/Sym