Validation of the disease-specific quality of life Wuerzburg Wound Score in patients with chronic leg ulcer.

BACKGROUND

Aim of the study was to validate a newly developed disease-specific quality of life questionnaire (Wuerzburg Wound Score, WWS) in patients with chronic arterial or venous leg ulcers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this prospective study 115 patients with vascular disease associated leg ulcer (54 arterial ulcer, 61 venous ulcer) were studied (mean age 66 ± 11 years, 51 % male). All patients completed the WWS at baseline, and after four and 12 weeks. To assess construct validity additionally all patients completed the generic QoL-questionnaires Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Construct validity and responsiveness of the WWS were tested.

RESULTS

WWS showed acceptable construct validity versus SF-36 (r = 0.5 - 0.78; P < 0.001) and NHP (r = 0.36 - 0.68; P < 0.001). Responsiveness of the WWS was superior to SF-36 (P < 0.05) and NHP (P = 0.01). Generic as well as disease-specific QoL were more impaired in patients with arterial ulcer.

CONCLUSIONS

The WWS is a valid measure of disease-specific QoL in patients with leg ulcers and it is more sensitive than the generic instruments in detecting changes of wound healing over time. Further assessment of the psychometric properties of the WWS with larger patient samples is required before the test can be recommended for use in clinical practice.