SHBC1267

X.ZHU¹, M.M.OLSSON², R. RAJPAI², K.JARBRINK², W.E.TANG¹, J.CAR² 

National Healthcare Group Polyclinics¹, Nanyang Technological University² 

Chronic wounds commonly decrease patient’s quality of life. Understanding how chronic wounds impact a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for healthcare service delivery and treatment management. This study explored HRQoL among patients suffering from chronic wounds and investigated associations with patients’ socio-demographics and wound characteristics.

233 patients with chronic wounds across six primary care clinics were assessed and responded to a survey that collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, wound specifics and HRQoL in five domains applying EQ-5D-5L instrument, between March and April 2018. Data was analysed by descriptive statistics and generalised linear models.

The mean age was 61.2 (SD:14.6) years; 68.2% of patients were males and 61.8% were of Chinese origin and had one (43.8%) or multiple comorbidities (39.9%). Arterial ulcer had the highest summarised HRQoL mean score 9.31 (SD: 3.5; range: 0-25) and the lowest VAS mean score 62.31 (SD: 28.3; range: 0-100) indicating the greatest negative impact on HRQoL compared to other wound aetiologies. HRQoL related to mobility was significantly associated with age (β=0.008, p<0.001), non-Chinese ethnicity (β=0.25, p=0.001), mixed ulcers (β=-0.41, p=0.022), atypical hard-to-heal wounds (β=-0.38, p=0.021), wounds with low (β=0.24, p=0.044) to moderate (β=0.29, p=0.018) exudate level, and a wound duration≥6 months (β=0.19, p=0.033).

HRQoL was most impacted for patients suffering from arterial ulcers. The duration of the chronic wound and the level of exudate impacted HRQoL related to mobility. The findings can be used to improve primary health care delivery for patients with chronic wound to optimize their HRQoL.