Determinant factors of quality of life in patients after amputation of a lower extremity in the course of atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes

Aim of the study
The assessment of selected aspects of the quality of life of patients who have undergone amputation of a lower extremity in the course of atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes.

Material and methods
The studies were carried out at the Provincial Hospital in Bielsko-Biała at the Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology and the Department of General and Vascular Surgery, at the Complex of Health Care Facilities in Żywiec at the Department of General Surgery, the Department of Rehabilitation, and at the Surgical Outpatient Clinic. The studies were carried out using the diagnostic poll method with the use of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and the authors’ own survey questionnaire. The study results were subjected to statistical analysis. The adopted significance level was p < 0.05.

Results
The majority of patients after amputation of a lower extremity assessed their quality of life at a low level. The domain assessed best by the respondents was the environment domain, and the one assessed worse was the physical health domain. Professional activity has an influence on satisfaction with life. The higher the level of amputation, the worse the patients’ ability to cope with everyday activities. Patients experiencing pain are to a high degree less satisfied with life than persons who do not experience it.

Conclusions
Amputation significantly lowers quality of life. The aspects that are of particular significance are the limited possibility of performing everyday activities, pain, the amputation level, the availability of financial resources, and architectural barriers.