Does percutaneous transluminal angioplasty improve quality of life?

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess the impact of peripheral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia (CLI). The secondary purpose was to determine if periprocedural medication altered patient QOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients underwent lower-limb PTA (86 lesions) over a period of 12 months. QOL data were obtained before PTA and at 1 and 6 months after PTA with use of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: The SF-36 questionnaire was completed in 100% of cases before PTA, in 89% at 1 month after PTA, and in 78% at 6 months after PTA. Baseline QOL was worse than the QOL quoted for the normal population. Overall, there was an improvement in QOL in seven of the nine health domains at 1 month after PTA, and the improvements were significant W <.01) in five. Improvement was demonstrated at 6 months in all nine QOL domains measured, which was significant W <.01) in five. Patients with intermittent claudication (n = 40) exhibited an improvement in all nine health domains at 6 months, which was significant W <.05) in seven. The CLI group (n = 32) showed an improvement in five domains at 6 months, which was significant W <.05) in two. Subjects with intermittent claudication experienced a more significant improvement than those with CLI. SF-36 pain scores at 1 month after PTA were significantly better in patients taking aspirin than in those who were not W <.001). CONCLUSIONS: PTA results in improved QOL in patients with intermittent claudication and CLI as early as I month, which was shown to be maintained at 6 months in our small series. Aspirin significantly improves pain after PTA. QOL assessment is useful after peripheral angioplasty.