QUALITY-OF-LIFE FOLLOWING PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY FOR CLAUDICATION

Objective: To determine quality of life in claudicants before and afte r percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Design: Prospective stu dy using EuroQuol questionnaire and visual analogue scales. Setting: D istrict general hospital Materials: Twenty-nine patients undergoing su ccessful PTA. Results: Before PTA patients showed a significantly lowe r EuroQuol score compared with the normal population. There was also m arked impairment of patients usual activities, mobility and perceived health state. Following successful PTA the EuroQuol score, perceived h ealth state, mobility, usual activities, pain and discomfort and menta l state were all significantly improved. Conclusions: Intermittent cla udication impairs quality of life. Following successful PTA there is s ignificant improvement in symptoms and in general health.