Quality of life and personality in patients with claudication after a rehabilitation programme: a short-term follow-up

Aim. There is still poor evidence regarding the medical outcome of rehabilitation programs for peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD II stage) and its relationship with personality and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome (initial claudicatio distance, ICD); the influence of demographic characteristics, types of personality, and specific worries on ICD index; and the association between clinical outcome and qoL in PAOD II stage patients after a rehabilitation program. Methods. Thirty patients (28 males, 2 females; mean age: 66±8 years) performing a rehabilitation program were evaluated, before the treatment and after 6 months with the treadmill test, and psychological questionnaires assessing personality traits, worries and satisfaction for QoL. Results. There was a significant improvement in pain-free walking distance (311.69%; ds 329.70). Lower age, lower psicoticism score (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), lower fear of calamity and personal serious risks, and higher fear of social rejection predicted a major improvement in ICD at 6 months (50% of variance explained). Moreover, there was significant improvement in QoL satisfaction in some areas of physical functioning. Conclusions. The training program is an effective rehabilitation instrument to improve walking distance. There is an association between medical outcome improvement, patients' age and specific traits of personality. Improvement in pain free walking distance is positively associated with subjective satisfaction in specific physical areas.