Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, including details on aaa (abdominal aortic aneurism), cardiac disease, treatment, symptoms, surgery. | ||||||||
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Health-related quality of life in survivors of open ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a matched, controlled cohort study.Hill AB, Palerme LP, Brandys T, Lewis R, Steinmetz OK Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ahill@ottawahospital.on.ca OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to document the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients who survived operative repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) and to compare this with a matched group of patients who survived elective operative repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (EAAA). METHODS: A matched, controlled cohort study of HRQOL was used to compare patients surviving RAAA with an EAAA control group. The study was conducted at two university-affiliated vascular tertiary care referral centers. Survivors of RAAA and EAAA during an 8.5-year period were identified and followed up. The RAAA and EAAA control patients were matched for age, serum creatinine concentration, gender, and duration of follow-up since surgery. HRQOL was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Scores for the EAAA and RAAA cohorts were also compared with age-corrected SF-36 population scores. RESULTS: Of 267 patients operated for RAAA during the study period, 130 (49%) survived to hospital discharge. Death after discharge was documented in 35 patients, leaving a potential study population of 95 RAAA survivors. Thirteen were lost to follow-up, seven refused to participate, and four patients were not able to participate. The SF-36 was completed by 71 RAAA patients (75% of surviving RAAA patients). The 71 RAAA survivors and 189 EAAA control patients were similar for seven of eight domains of the SF-36: Physical Function, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Mental Health, and Role-Emotional. There was also no difference in the Physical Health Summary and Mental Health Summary scores. The social function component of the SF-36 demonstrated a statistically significant decline in the EAAA group. Both the EAAA and RAAA SF-36 individual and summary scores compared favorably with population norms that were adjusted only for age. CONCLUSION: Long-term survivors of RAAA enjoy a HRQOL that does not differ significantly from EAAA survivors. Scores for both groups compare favorably with population scores adjusted only for age. Published 31 July 2007 in J Vasc Surg, 46(2): 223-9.
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