ABSTRACT
Objective To study the quality of life of patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) and explore the effect of demographic and clinical factors on their quality of life. Method A self-designed demographic and clinical data questionnaire and the MOS 36 items short form health survey were used to investigate the life quality of 90 LEAD patients. Results The scores on the dimensions of life quality of the LEAD patients were significantly lower than those of common population (P<0.001). The marriage status and education affected patients′physical function, general health and social health;the longer the course of disease, the worse the general health;the complications, exercise and kind of disease affected patients'physical responsibility, physical function and emotion;the kind of disease affected patients'vitality; patients with exercise had higher general health (all P<0.05). Conclusions The life quality of LEAD patients is in general lower. The life quality of patients with different demographic and clinical data factors is varied. Therefore, doctors and nurses should correctly assess the life quality of LEAD patients and instruct those with problems so as to improve their quality of life.