Predictors of health after operation for aortoiliac occlusive and aneurysmal disease.

BACKGROUND

We assessed the impact of comorbid conditions and revascularization for aortoiliac occlusive and aneurysmal disease and determined the functional health status of patients with the Medical Outcomes Study SF36 Health Survey.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-five patients were surveyed prospectively, before operation, and at intervals ranging from 2 weeks to 2 years after operation. To identify the factors that influenced functional health, multiple regression analysis was performed to test the hypothesis that age, pulmonary disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, diabetes, aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD) versus aneurysmal disease, and the preoperative physical summary score affected outcome.

RESULTS

Regression analysis identified that before operation, the physical summary score (PCS) was affected by pulmonary disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, and AOD, and patients with AOD had significantly worse PCS than patients with aneurysmal disease (43.2 +/- 12.6 vs 30.1 +/- 8.3, P <.05). This difference was also present after 3 to 12 months, and the preoperative PCS was the strongest predictor of the postoperative score. For patients followed up between 1 and 2 years, there was no significant difference among the groups, and atherosclerotic heart disease and pulmonary disease were identified to most affect the PCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with AOD have significantly impaired physical function (as compared with patients with aneurysmal disease) that is successfully reversed with a surgical procedure. The functional health of patients after operation for aneurysmal disease returns to baseline after 3 and 12 months. Ultimately, cardiac and pulmonary comorbidities have a continued effect on the functional health of patients.