Quality of life in Werner syndrome and associated subjective foot/ankle symptoms: A cross‐sectional survey

Abstract

AimThe aims of this study were to assess the general quality of life and foot/ankle health‐related quality of life among subjects with Werner syndrome (WS) and to determine subjective foot/ankle symptoms associated with quality of life.MethodsUsing a questionnaire survey, patients were asked to provide information on age, sex and presence of subjective symptoms and complete both the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) questionnaire and the Self‐Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE‐Q). Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t‐test, the Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation.ResultsData from 12 patients with an average age of 54 ± 8.6 years were analyzed. The mean SF‐36 score for the domain of physical functioning was 21.2; for role–physical function, 32.6; for bodily pain, 38.5; for general health, 34.4; for vitality, 44.8; for social function, 38.5; for role–emotional function and for mental health, 46.7. The mean mental component summary was as high as the national standard, but it was low in men. The mean SAFE‐Q scores were also low. Patients with ulcers had significantly more pain and low general health perception. As compared with the national standard, the role/social component score was not low, and there was a correlation in most domains of the SAFE‐Q.ConclusionIn WS, the general health‐related quality of life was low overall in the physical domain and low only in men for the mental domain, whereas it was low in the social domain when foot/ankle health‐related quality of life was low. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 188–193.