Cardiovascular diseases and the health‐related quality of life after total hip replacement

Aims and objectives. To evaluate to what degree total hip replacement, or co‐morbidities or their progression, influence the health‐related quality of life of patients after the operation. We have looked for an objective method to reflect the severity of cardiovascular diseases and to better characterise the health‐related quality of life of patients with total hip replacement. Background. The main weakness of the different health‐related quality of life methods that are applied to the analysis is the lack of information regarding the contributory role of co‐morbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases. Design. Retrospective longitudinal study. Methods. This study involved 109 patients who had had total hip replacement. The patients’ health status – objective and subjective functional performance at the time of operation and five years later – was evaluated using questionnaires (including EQ‐5D and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ Ostoearthritis Index scores) and the hospital database. An Objective Cardiovascular Classification grouping was developed to evaluate the deterioration of cardiovascular diseases. Results. The subjective assessment of the patients’ health status at Year 5 revealed highly significant differences between healthy and sick patients in respect of EQ‐5D and Objective Cardiovascular Classification but not in the case of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ Ostoearthritis Index scores. Evaluating postoperative subjective health awareness, a higher sensitivity and specificity and a significantly better individual‐discriminating role was demonstrated in Objective Cardiovascular Classification vs. EQ‐5D. Conclusion. After successful total hip replacement postoperative health awareness is influenced mainly by existing and developing cardiovascular diseases. It seems to be the case that for patients with significant hypertension, ischaemic heart disease or chronic heart failure, even successful surgery will not improve the patients’ overall feeling of health. Relevance to clinical practice. Nursing care of patients with total hip replacement, in respect of cardiovascular diseases, can contribute a better health‐related quality of life.