Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health-related quality of life of survivors of penetrating trunk trauma in Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To study how the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of survivors of penetrating trunk trauma (PTT) changes from pre-morbid status to 6 months after hospital discharge and to determine differences in the HRQOL between subjects ventilated for short and prolonged periods of time. To determine how the HRQOL of PTT survivors compares with that of a healthy control group in order to identify limitations imposed by critical illness.

Methods

Retrospective and observational prospective assessment of the quality of life (QoL) of PTT survivors with the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 (SF-36) UK English version questionnaire. Cross-sectional assessment of the QoL of a healthy control group with the SF-36.

Results

The physical component summary (PCS) score was significantly reduced for the short mechanical ventilation (MV) group (n = 13) at 1 and 3 months compared to pre-admission status (p = 0.00, respectively). The mental component summary (MCS) score was significantly reduced at 1, 3 and 6 months (p = 0.00, respectively). The PCS and MCS were significantly reduced for the long MV group (n = 29) at all three assessments compared to the pre-admission HRQOL (p = 0.00–0.01). The short MV group reported HRQOL comparable to that of the healthy group (n = 40) at 6 months after discharge. The long MV group had a significant reduction in the PCS at 1, 3 and 6 months compared to the healthy group (p = 0.00, respectively). The long MV group had significantly reduced PCS at 3 and 6 months compared to the short MV group (p = 0.01 and 0.00, respectively).

Conclusions

Subjects who had higher morbidity and prolonged MV suffered from reduced HRQOL related to physical health for up to 6 months after discharge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Statistics South Africa (2008). Mortality and causes of death in South Africa, 2006: Findings from death notification. Available online at: http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P03093/P030932006.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2010.

  2. National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (2005). A profile of fatal injuries in South Africa: 7th annual report. Available online at: http://www.sahealthinfo.org.za/violence/national2005.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2010.

  3. Bowley DM, Dickson EJ, Tai N, Goosen J, Boffard KD. A theme issue by, for, and about Africa: South Africa is still blighted by trauma. BMJ. 2005;331:780.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilson RF, Bender JS. General considerations in abdominal trauma. In: Wilson RF, Walt AJ, editors. Management of trauma: pitfalls and practice. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996. p. 424–9.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Boffard KD. Metabolic response to trauma. In: Mieny CJ, Mennen U, editors. Principles of surgical patient care. 2nd ed. Claremont: New Africa Education; 2003. p. 170–8.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nordhaug D, Steensrud T, Aghajani E, Korvald C, Myrmel T. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition impairs myocardial efficiency and ventriculo-arterial matching in acute ischemic heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2004;6(6):705–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schiller HJ, Anderson HL III. Hemorrhagic shock and other low preload states. In: Lanken PN, editor. The intensive care unit manual. Pennsylvania: WB Saunders; 2001. p. 85–92.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Griffiths RD, Jones C. ABC of intensive care: recovery from intensive care. BMJ. 1999;319:427–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Salter KL, Moses MB, Foley NC, Teasell RW. Health-related quality of life after stroke: what are we measuring? Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(2):111–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kranciukaite D, Rastenyte D. Measurement of quality of life in stroke patients. Medicina (Kaunas). 2006;42(9):709–16.

    Google Scholar 

  11. World Health Organization (WHO). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Geneva: WHO; 1948. p. 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  12. World Health Organization QOL Group. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization. Soc Sci Med. 1995;41:1403–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. DeVon HA, Ferrans CE. The psychometric properties of four quality of life instruments used in cardiovascular populations. J Cardiopulm Rehabil. 2003;23:122–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dowdy DW, Eid MP, Sedrakyan A, Mendez-Tellez PA, Pronovost PJ, Herridge MS, Needham DM. Quality of life in adult survivors of critical illness: a systematic review of the literature. Intensive Care Med. 2005;31:611–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cuthbertson BH, Scott J, Strachan M, Kilonzo M, Vale L. Quality of life before and after intensive care. Anaesthesia. 2005;60:332–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Monzon-Torres BI, Ortega-Gonzalez M. Penetrating abdominal trauma. S Afr J Surg. 2004;42(1):11–3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bowley DM, Rein P, Cherry R, Vellema J, Snyman T, Boffard KD. Substance abuse and major trauma in Johannesburg. S Afr J Surg. 2004;42(1):7–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Badia X, Diaz-Prieto A, Gorriz MT, Herdman M, Torrado H, Farrero E, Cavanilles JM. Using the EuroQol-5D to measure changes in quality of life 12 months after discharge from an intensive care unit. Intensive Care Med. 2001;27:1901–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Niskanen M, Ruokonen E, Takala J, Rissanen P, Kari A. Quality of life after prolonged intensive care. Crit Care Med. 1999;27(6):1132–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Myhren H, Ekeberg Ø, Stokland O. Health-related quality of life and return to work after critical illness in general intensive care unit patients: a 1-year follow-up study. Crit Care Med. 2010;38(7):1554–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Garnacho-Montero J, Madrazo-Osuna J, García-Garmendia JL, Ortiz-Leyba C, Jiménez-Jiménez FJ, Barrero-Almodóvar A, Garnacho-Montero MC, Moyano-Del-Estad MR. Critical illness polyneuropathy: risk factors and clinical consequences. A cohort study in septic patients. Intensive Care Med. 2001;27:1288–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Tennilä A, Salmi T, Pettilä V, Roine RO, Varpula T, Takkunen O. Early signs of critical illness polyneuropathy in ICU patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis. Intensive Care Med. 2000;26:1360–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Winkelman C, Higgins PA, Chen YJK, Levine AD. Cytokines in chronically critically ill patients after activity and rest. Biol Res Nurs. 2007;8(4):261–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Jackman RW, Kandarian SC. The molecular basis of skeletal muscle atrophy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2004;287:C834–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Reid MB, Li YP. Tumor necrosis factor-α and muscle wasting: a cellular perspective. Respir Res. 2001;2:269–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Gosselink R, Bott J, Johnson M, Dean E, Nava S, Norrenberg M, Schönhofer B, Stiller K, van de Leur H, Vincent JL. Physiotherapy for adult patients with critical illness: recommendations of the European Respiratory Society and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Task Force on Physiotherapy for Critically Ill Patients. Intensive Care Med. 2008;34:1188–99.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wehler M, Geise A, Hadzionerovic D, Aljukic E, Reulbach U, Hahn EG, Strauss R. Health-related quality of life of patients with multiple organ dysfunction: individual changes and comparison with normative population. Crit Care Med. 2003;31(4):1094–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jones C, Skirrow P, Griffiths RD, Humphris GH, Ingleby S, Eddleston J, Waldmann C, Gager M. Rehabilitation after critical illness: a randomized, controlled trial. Crit Care Med. 2003;31(10):2456–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the following institutions for funding this project: (a) Thuthuka Programme for Researchers in Training, National Research Foundation, South Africa; (b) Ellen Hodges Medical Faculty Research Endowment Fund of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits, 2050, South Africa

    H. van Aswegen, H. Myezwa & W. Mudzi

  2. Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    P. Becker

Authors
  1. H. van Aswegen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Myezwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Mudzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Becker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. van Aswegen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Aswegen, H., Myezwa, H., Mudzi, W. et al. Health-related quality of life of survivors of penetrating trunk trauma in Johannesburg, South Africa. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 37, 419–426 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-010-0071-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-010-0071-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation