Prospective Evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Deep Venous Thrombosis

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common cardiovascular condition with substantial morbidity and mortality. Studies of the natural history or treatment of DVT have traditionally evaluated clinical end points such as recurrence of venous thromboembolism. While important, such end points are limited in their ability to describe and quantify the full impact of illness on patients’ health and daily functioning. Quality of life (QOL), by defining health in broader terms than morbidity and mortality, yields valuable information on burden of illness and is an important end point to consider when studying patients with DVT.^1-4 To date, however, the impact of DVT on QOL has received little attention by thrombosis investigators.