Quality of Life of Seniors Staying in the Vascular Surgery Department

Abstract

Background. Cardiovascular diseases are among the most important health problems and are considered a leading cause of death. A patient’s quality of life (QoL) depends on their physical and mental health, as well as on various areas of their functioning. The purpose of this study was to determine the QoL of senior patients with vascular diseases. Material and methods. The study covered 227 patients staying in the vascular surgery department. The analysis used a proprietary questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic data, and standardized questionnaires: SF-36 and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Results. Most patients with vascular diseases were men (120 men, i.e. 52.86%) and those over the age of 60 (66.08%). A correlation was observed between age and perceived QoL – patients over 60 experience a lower QoL in terms of physical functioning and general health. It was found that women were significantly more likely than men to experience a reduced QoL due to pain complaints, and that those with higher levels of education, taking fewer medications, had lower scores on the Beck’s scale. Conclusions. Pain has a decisive impact on the respondents’ QoL. The higher the level of depression among the respondents, the lower their QoL. Women are more likely to experience reduced QoL due to pain complaints. People with higher levels of education take fewer medications, less frequently complain of low mood and rate their QoL higher.