Patient-based outcomes using the walking impairment questionnaire for patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease treated with lipo-PGE 1

Abstract

Background: Patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) experience deteriorating ambulatory function and consequently impaired quality of life (QOL). QOL in patients receiving prostaglandin E1 in lipid microspheres (lipo-PGE1; Liple® ) for the treatment of PAD has not been evaluated using the Japanese version of the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ). Methods and Results: Data from 169 patients (98 men, 71 women; mean [median] age, 74±10 [74] years) with an ankle-brachial pressure index <0.9 were analyzed. WIQ scores and symptom scores significantly improved after lipo-PGE1 treatment (P<0.01). Physicians' assessments of global improvement significantly correlated with all 4 WIQ subscales (R≤0.31). Conclusions: WIQ is a valid tool for evaluating therapeutic response in patients with PAD. Lipo-PGE1 improves QOL as evaluated by patients themselves.