Life with peripheral arterial disease and the resulting impaired walking ability leads to
major limitations in daily life and a decreased quality of life. The overall aim of this
thesis was to generate understanding about the life situation among people living with
peripheral arterial disease and their family members.
The outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty interventions both proximal
and distal to the inguinal ligament were assessed by collecting data by means of chart
review using a study specific protocol. The results show a connection between
proximal intervention and age as well as proximal intervention and smoking. Patients in
the proximal group were younger and more frequent smokers or former smokers and
hematomas/bruises as a complication were more common among non-diabetic patients
(Paper I).
Health related quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing
percutaneous transluminal angioplasty intervention was investigated using a general
questionnaire (EQ5D) as well as a disease-specific questionnaire (CLAU-S) translated
into Swedish for this study. The health related quality of life was improved both one
month and one year after the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty compared to before
the intervention (Paper II).
The experiences of living with intermittent claudication were studied through
qualitative interviews with individuals suffering from peripheral arterial disease. The
interviews were analyzed by thematic content analysis and six themes together founded
a main theme concerning adjusting to a restricted life when living with intermittent
claudication (Paper III).
Spouses and cohabitants were interviewed about their experiences of living together
with a person suffering from intermittent claudication. The overall theme was about
living a demanding life when living together with someone with intermittent
claudication. The findings of this study give insight into the complexities and the
difficulties of ageing and living together with someone suffering from intermittent
claudication (Paper IV).
In conclusion, living with intermittent claudication has a major impact on daily life and
demands adjustment to a restricted life. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
improves health related quality of life among individuals suffering from peripheral
arterial disease and the effect is sustainable over time up to one year after the
intervention. People who had undergone percutaneous transluminal angioplasty were
younger in the proximal group and hematomas/bruises were more common among nondiabetic
patients. Ageing and intermittent claudication have great impact on both the
spouse’s and the ill person’s life situation
