QOL - Quality of Life

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Quality of Life Issues

Living with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can result in:

• Reduced ability to live a "normal" life
• Necessity of wearing elastic compression stockings
• Balancing dietary and medication interactions
• Changing of daily activities and routines

A consequence of living with a DVT is the reduction in patient quality of life (QOL). The ability to perform day to day activities are reduced. Patients must wear specialized elastic stockings, known as graduated compression stockings, monitor their diet to maintain proper concentrations of anticoagulants, and modify their daily activities.
Statistically significant reductions in quality of life occur in DVT patients treated with anticoagulation therapy alone as compared to population norms. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine the authors studied 359 patients with DVT who were treated with anticoagulation therapy alone.

The patients were given two questionnaires: SF-36 and VEINES at the time of the diagnosis and at one and four months post-diagnosis to determine the impact of the medical condition on their quality of life. The table below graphically highlights that one-third of patients whose symptoms either remained the same or whose condition declined had a worsening of QOL scores four months post-anticoagulation initiated therapy.

At one month, QOL scores were lower than in patients with arthritis or chronic lung disease and similar to patients with angina. At four months, the mean QOL was similar to patients with arthritis or chronic lung disease.