Objective: The aim of this study was to examine patients who have undergone percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in order to describe patient characteristics and outcomes of interventions proximal and distal to the inguinal ligament and to assess whether different living situations may be associated with the outcome of PTA-intervention.

Design: A retrospective descriptive chart review.

Setting: A Swedish University Hospital between January 1998 and December 2002.

Participants: All patients who have undergone PTA.

Main outcome measure: Medical and nursing records from medical, surgical, orthopedic, and geriatric clinics were reviewed to obtain data. A study-specific protocol was developed.

Results: Eighty-seven patients were treated with PTA proximal and 101 distal to the inguinal ligament. No significant differences regarding outcome were found. Fifty-two patients had hematoma/bruise as a complication, which was more common among non-diabetic patients; 46 without diabetes versus 6 diagnosed with diabetes (p = 0.001). When comparing patients living situations and mortality, 76 of the deceased patients had been living alone compared to 38 of the survivors (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: The patients were younger in the proximal group, however no differences in outcome were found between patients who had undergone PTA whether proximal or distal to the inguinal ligament. Hematomas/bruises as a complication were more common among nondiabetic patients. Amputation was a strong predictor of death during follow-up.

Measuring Health Related Quality of Life has become more and more important in evaluating patients with peripheral arterial disease. This prospective longitudinal survey aimed to investigate health related quality of life over time in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) between December 2005 and June 2008. Health Related Quality of life was assessed using the Claudication Scale (CLAU-S) and EQ5D and the Sense of Coherence Scale was used to estimate the patients' sense of coherence. The findings of this study shows that the total CLAU-S score was improved both at one-month follow-up (p < 0.0001) and one-year follow-up (p < 0.0001) compared to baseline. There were significant differences regarding all five dimensions: every day life, pain, social life, illness-specific fears and psychological wellbeing. The EQ5D computed by index improved significantly both at one-month follow-up (p = 0.0006) and one-year follow-up (p = 0.0019) compared to baseline. Differences were found between the groups with low and moderate sense of coherence (p = 0.0169) as well as between the groups with low and high sense of coherence (p = 0.0208) regarding health related quality of life (HRQoL). This study showed that PTA improves HRQoL among individuals suffering from PAD and that the effect is sustainable over time. For more accurate results, a disease-specific instrument should be used to evaluate HRQoL.

Intermittent claudication is a symptom caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is associated with pain, impaired mobility and loss of control. Walking ability is reduced due to the pain, and both physical and social functions are often negatively affected, which may lead to patients feeling they are a burden to others. An interview study using a qualitative descriptive design to describe experiences of living with intermittent claudication caused by PAD was carried out during Winter and Spring 2009/2010. Fifteen people suffering from intermittent claudication were interviewed, and the interviews were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Intermittent claudication greatly affects daily living. Six themes were identified: "Experiencing discomfort in the legs," "Moving around in a new way," "Feeling inconvenient when forced to stop," "Missing previous life," "Incorporating intermittent claudication in daily life," and "To lead a strenuous life." The main theme was "Adjusting to a restricted life." The findings show that intermittent claudication has a major impact on daily life. Apart from the severity of symptoms, how the illness is experienced differs among patients, depending on how active the ill person is or wants to be. These findings suggest that increased knowledge about living with intermittent claudication is important to understand the effects on the ill person's life, as a complement to physical examinations when planning individual treatment.

Aim.  To report a study of family members’ experiences of living with a person suffering from intermittent claudication caused by peripheral arterial disease.

Background.  Intermittent claudication is a symptom caused by peripheral arterial disease. Walking ability is reduced due to pain and this also affects the family members and leads to consequences such as isolation and a restricted life.

Design.  This study has a qualitative descriptive design.

Methods.  Ten spouses living with a person suffering from intermittent claudication were interviewed between December 2009–June 2010. The interviews were then analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.

Findings.  Four themes were identified: ‘Frustrating to not meet intentions’, ‘Undergoing changes in social life’, ‘Being a person on the side of things’ and ‘Intertwining of circumstances’. The overall theme ‘Living a demanding life’ illustrates that intermittent claudication has great impact on daily life among spouses.

Conclusion.  This study gives an insight into the complexities and the difficulties of living together with someone suffering from intermittent claudication, a symptom that has great impact on both the spouses’ and the ill persons’ lives. According to the findings in this study, it is important to gain knowledge about the spouses’ experiences because an holistic perspective is essential to treat and support the ill persons and their spouses.