Assessment of the quality of life of patients after open revascularization for acute limb ischemia that developed in the acute stage of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19

Introduction. Acute peripheral arterial thrombosis, which develops against the background of COVID-19, significantly worsens the prognosis of survival. Open revascularization is the method of choice for acute limb ischemia (ALI), but in conditions of coronavirus infection it is associated with a high risk of retrombosis. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients who underwent open revascularization for acute acute respiratory tract infection in the acute stage of COVID-19, in comparison with patients without viral infection.

Methods. The study included 136 patients with ALI who underwent open thrombectomy, endarterectomy and artery plasty. The main group (n=86) – patients with COVID-19, the control group (n=50) – without infection. The quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire at discharge and after 12 months. The statistical analysis was carried out in the "R" software environment.

Results. In the early postoperative period, the quality of life of patients with COVID-19 was significantly lower on 7 out of 8 SF-36 scales. After a year, the indicators improved, but did not reach the level of the control group on the scales of physical pain, vitality and role functioning. The physical and mental components of health were lower by 13 % (p˂0,02) and 10 % (p˂0,01), respectively.

Conclusions. COVID-19 negatively affects the results of open revascularization in ALI. The quality of life of such patients in the long-term period remains below the average population, which requires consideration during medical examination and rehabilitation.

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