Patient-Based Outcomes Using the Walking Impairment Questionnaire for Patients With Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease Treated With Lipo-PGE₁

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. (Circ J 2010; 74: 365-370)