Postoperative anemia and quality of life after primary hip arthroplasty in patients over 65 years old.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is uncertain whether anemia in elderly patients after primary hip arthroplasty has an effect on their quality of life.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective observational study over 3 mo to investigate the association between discharge hemoglobin levels and subjective experience of quality of life at 2 mo postoperatively in patients aged over 65 yr who were scheduled for primary hip arthroplasty. Quality of life was measured preoperatively and at 2 mo postoperatively using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Anemia (FACT-Anemia) subscale. Pearson correlation coefficients between change in SF-36 and FACT-Anemia subscale scores (from preoperatively to 2 mo postoperatively) and hemoglobin on Day 8 were calculated.

RESULTS:

Eighty-seven patients were included in the study. Data were available at 2 mo postoperatively from 79 of these patients. The correlation between Day 8 postoperative hemoglobin and change in SF-36 was 0.49 (P < 0.0005) and change in FACT-Anemia subscale score was 0.46 (P = < 0.0005). The correlation was not significantly changed after adjusting for advancing age, presence of significant cardiovascular disease, or whether the patient was transfused.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found a positive correlation between hemoglobin levels on discharge and change in quality of life scores from preoperatively to 2 mo postoperatively in patients over 65 yr old after primary hip arthroplasty.

• Authors: Niamh P Conlon, Eilis P Bale, G Peter Herbison, Maire McCarroll
• Journal: Anesthesia and analgesia (Anesth Analg) Vol. 106 Issue 4 Pg. 1056-61, table of contents (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1526-7598 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18349173 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hemoglobins

Topics

• Aged
• Anemia (blood, epidemiology, physiopathology, psychology)
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip (adverse effects)
• Blood Transfusion
• Female
• Health Surveys
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Social Behavior
• Surveys and Questionnaires