[Quality of life and venous thromboembolic disease].

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) refers to patients' perceptions of their diseases or the application of specific treatments in various areas of their lives, especially the effects on physical, emotional and social well-being. The present article reviews current knowledge about HRQoL in venous thromboembolic disease (VTED). First, the importance and utility of the concept of HRQoL is discussed and then the instruments used to measure this concept are described. The central argument of this review has three main aims: To present the HRQoL measurement instruments designed specifically for VTED; to evaluate the impact of VTED on HRQoL in these patients; and to determine the changes produced by distinct therapeutic strategies on the already altered HRQoL in these patients. Both in the acute phase (venous thrombosis) and in the chronic phase (postthrombotic syndrome), VTED alters several dimensions of HRQoL. At all stages, treatment of VTED should aim to improve HRQoL. Do achieve this, clinical trials should incorporate HRQoL measurement in the evaluation of results.