Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (Jul 2007)

Health related quality of life six months following surgical treatment for secondary peritonitis – using the EQ-5D questionnaire

  • Steller E Philip,
  • Gerhards Michael F,
  • Hesselink Eric J,
  • de Graaf Peter W,
  • Gooszen Hein G,
  • Reuland E Ascelijn,
  • Opmeer Brent C,
  • Mahler Cecilia W,
  • Reitsma Johannes B,
  • van Ruler Oddeke,
  • Boer Kimberly R,
  • Sprangers Mirjam A,
  • Boermeester Marja A,
  • De Borgie Corianne A

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-35
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 1
p. 35

Abstract

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Abstract Background To compare health related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients surgically treated for secondary peritonitis to that of a healthy population. And to prospectively identify factors associated with poorer (lower) HR-QoL. Design A prospective cohort of secondary peritonitis patients was mailed the EQ-5D and EQ-VAS 6-months following initial laparotomy. Setting Multicenter study in two academic and seven regional teaching hospitals. Patients 130 of the 155 eligible patients (84%) responded to the HR-QoL questionnaires. Results HR-QoL was significantly worse on all dimensions in peritonitis patients than in a healthy reference population. Peritonitis characteristics at initial presentation were not associated with HR-QoL at six months. A more complicated course of the disease leading to longer hospitalization times and patients with an enterostomy had a negative impact on the mobility (p = 0.02), self-care (p Conclusion Six months following initial surgery, patients with secondary peritonitis report more problems in HR-QoL than a healthy reference population. Unfavorable disease characteristics at initial presentation were not predictive for poorer HR-QoL, but a more complicated course of the disease was most predictive of HR-QoL at 6 months.