Open AccessHealth‐related quality of life and chronic wound characteristics among patients with chronic wounds treated in primary care: A cross‐sectional study in Singapore
Author(s) -
Zhu Xiaoli,
Olsson Maja Magdalena,
Bajpai Ram,
Järbrink Krister,
Tang Wern Ee,
Car Josip
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international wound journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1742-481X
pISSN - 1742-4801
DOI - 10.1111/iwj.13708
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , chronic wound , demographics , depression (economics) , anxiety , cross sectional study , health related quality of life , chronic pain , physical therapy , surgery , wound healing , disease , demography , psychiatry , pathology , nursing , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Chronic wounds commonly decrease patients' quality of life. Understanding how chronic wounds impact a patient's health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for healthcare service delivery and treatment management. This study explored HRQoL among patients suffering from chronic wounds and investigated associations with patients' socio‐demographics and wound characteristics. Two hundred and thirty‐three patients across six primary care clinics were assessed and responded to a survey that collected information on socio‐demographic, wound characteristics, and HRQoL using the EQ‐5D‐5L instrument. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics and generalised linear models. The mean age of patients was 61.2 (SD: 14.6) years; 68.2% were males; and 61.8% were of Chinese origin. Arterial ulcers had the greatest negative impact on HRQoL related to mobility, self‐care, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, and the lowest VAS mean score 62.31 (SD: 28.3; range: 0‐100) indicating the worst health. HRQoL related to mobility was significantly associated with age ( β = 0.008, P < .001), non‐Chinese ethnicity ( β = 0.25, P = .001), mixed ulcers ( β = −0.41, P = .022), atypical hard‐to‐heal wounds ( β = −0.38, P = .021), wounds with low ( β = 0.24, P = .044) to moderate ( β = 0.29, P = .018) exudate level, and a wound duration ≥6 months ( β = 0.19, P = .033). The findings can be used to improve healthcare delivery for patients with chronic wound to optimise their HRQoL.