Quality of life after pulmonary embolism: validation of the PEmb-QoL Questionnaire

J Thromb Haemost. 2010 Mar;8(3):523-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2009.03726.x. Epub 2009 Dec 15.

Abstract

Background: Even though quality of life (QoL) has become a key component of medical care, there is no instrument available that specifically measures QoL after pulmonary embolism (PE). Recently, the Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (PEmb-QoL) Questionnaire has been developed to address this gap.

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the PEmb-QoL questionnaire.

Methods: We distributed the PEmb-QoL questionnaire and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire twice among consecutive subjects with a history of objectively confirmed acute PE. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and criterion validity, and correlations between the PEmb-QoL and clinical patient characteristics were assessed using standard-scale construction techniques.

Results: Ninety participants completed the questionnaires twice. Internal consistency was adequate (Cronbach's alpha 0.62-0.94), as well as test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients: 0.78-0.94). Furthermore, correlation between the PEmb-QoL questionnaire and the SF-36 questionnaire supported convergent validity. Age, obesity, cardiopulmonary comorbidity, centrally located PE and a family history of venous thromboembolism were shown to be independent determinants of disease-specific QoL.

Conclusion: The PEmb-QoL questionnaire is a reliable instrument to specifically assess QoL following PE, which is helpful in the identification of patients with decreased QoL following acute PE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Observer Variation
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / psychology
  • Quality of Life*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*