Functional status and well-being in a group of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

The aim of the present study was to investigate how abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) affects the patient's functional status, health and well-being. Forty-two consecutive patients at a university clinic were included. Twenty were operated on and 22 were on regular, conservative check-ups. The patients answered questionnaires regarding perceived functional status (Sickness Impact Profile, SIP), general health (Health Index, HI) and psychological well-being. Two reference groups were used. The non-operated patients scored significantly worse for functional status on the psycho-social subscale than the operated patients. In comparison with the reference group they had the worst scores for functional status on the overall SIP scale and the physical, eating and home-management scales. Regarding the HI, there was no difference between the patient groups themselves, but as a whole they had significantly lower scores than the reference group. Thus, the patients perceived their well-being as worse than a healthy reference group. In their attitudes to well-being, the non-operated patients, were significantly less hopeful than the operated patients. It is obvious that asymptomatic AAA has a significant effect on the patient's self-perceived, functional status and well-being, irrespective of the surgical or conservative management.