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Thromb Haemost 2019; 119(11): 1869-1876
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1696717
Stroke, Systemic or Venous Thromboembolism
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Understanding Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

Reaghan M. Erickson
1   Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Michael Feehan
2   Kantar LLC, San Francisco, California, United States
,
Mark A. Munger
1   Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
3   Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
Casey Tak
4   Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eschelman School of Pharmacy, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
5   UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
,
Daniel M. Witt
1   Department of Pharmacotherapy, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was supported by Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning & Change, Bristol-Myers Squibb Independent Medical Education, and The Joint Commission. The sponsors had no role in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All authors had full access to all the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
Further Information

Publication History

15 May 2019

09 July 2019

Publication Date:
06 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Quality of life (QoL) deficits have been noted among patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) but understanding of the drivers of that poorer QoL is limited. The objective of this study was to examine associations between a variety of factors and QoL in patients with VTE.

Methods Adult patients who had experienced at least one VTE episode within the past 2 years completed an online survey between May and July 2016 with responses to a variety of questions designed to ascertain QoL scores, Optum Short Form-12, and potential factors associated with these scores.

Results Most of the 907 patients were female (56.7%) and Caucasian (88.6%). Physical and mental QoL scores below the general population average were present in 76.0 and 56.7% of patients, respectively. Multiple regression modeling revealed several factors associated with below average physical QoL scores including unemployment (odds ratio [OR] 3.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76–8.05), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.28–5.01), high depression scores (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.88–8.58), or difficulty accessing VTE care (OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.77–10.17). Factors associated with below average mental QoL scores included experiencing VTE within the last month (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.58–9.41), unemployment (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.30–6.16), or high depression (OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.60–9.28) and/or anxiety (OR 9.17, 95% CI 4.81–17.47) scores.

Conclusion Most patients with recently diagnosed VTE reported below average QoL. Many of the factors associated with below average QoL are modifiable, indicating that patients with VTE could potentially benefit from interventions aimed at improving QoL.

Keywords

venous thromboembolism - quality of life - bleeding - anxiety - depression

Supplementary Material

 

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