# Quality of Life Outcomes Following Aortofemoral and Iliofemoral Bypass Surgery in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that bypass surgeries for peripheral arterial disease improve patients' quality of life over two years, with factors like age and smoking affecting outcomes.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into long-term quality of life improvements and predictors following aortofemoral and iliofemoral bypass surgeries.

## Key findings

- Significant improvements in physical and mental quality of life were observed two years post-surgery.
- Older age, unemployment, lower income, high BMI, smoking, and comorbidities were linked to lower quality of life scores.
- Patients with comorbidities showed significant postoperative improvements despite lower initial scores.

## Abstract

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease is a circulatory disorder characterized by reduced blood flow to the extremities, predominantly affecting the lower limbs. This study aims to evaluate the impact of aortofemoral and iliofemoral bypass surgeries on patients' quality of life two years post operation and identify predictors of quality-of-life improvements.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult patients with aortoiliac disease who underwent bypass surgery (aortofemoral or iliofemoral) at East Jeddah General Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. Quality of life was assessed using the Arabic version of the Short Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12) preoperatively and two years postoperatively. Data on sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, income) and medical factors (smoking, BMI, comorbidities) were collected. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and regression analyses using IBM SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

Results: The study included 275 patients. Significant improvements in both physical and mental SF-12 scores were observed postoperatively across all patient groups (P < 0.001). Older age, unemployment, and lower income were associated with lower SF-12 scores. Males had higher postoperative mental scores (P = 0.036). Higher BMI and smoking pack-years negatively correlated with SF-12 scores. Patients with comorbidities had significantly lower preoperative and postoperative SF-12 scores (P < 0.05) but showed significant improvements postoperatively (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Aortofemoral and iliofemoral bypass surgeries significantly improve the quality of life in peripheral arterial disease patients two years post operation. Key predictors of lower quality of life include older age, unemployment, lower income, high BMI, smoking, and comorbidities. Targeted interventions, such as smoking cessation programs, weight management, and comprehensive medical care, are essential for optimizing postoperative outcomes and enhancing patients' physical and mental well-being.