Andreo-García, María VictoriaNavarro-Flores, EmmanuelLosa-Iglesias, Marta ElenaBecerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo, RicardoGómez Salgado, JuanLópez-López, Daniel2024-10-282024-10-282023-08Andreo-García MV, Navarro-Flores E, Losa-Iglesias ME, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Gómez Salgado J, López-López D. Effect of foot health-related quality of life in rural population: A case-control study. J Tissue Viability. 2023 Aug;32(3):389-394. doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2023.04.007. Epub 2023 Apr 27. PMID: 37127484.0965-206X (print)1876-4746 (online)https://hdl.handle.net/10115/40778Background: Foot health problems can affect quality of life and general health producing a source of discomfort and pain. Low levels of foot health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are present in patients with foot disabilities, such as hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, or minor toe deformities. Objective: The objective was to analyze the foot health status in patients with and without foot problems in a rural population and its relationship with quality of life. Material and methods: A prospective case-control study was developed with a sample of 152 patients, 76 subjects with podiatric pathologies and 76 without, in a rural population. HRQoL was measured through the SF-36 Health Questionnaire in the Spanish version. Results: The case group had a mean age of 49.18 ± 14.96 and the control group 44.16 ± 11.79. Regarding the score of the lowest levels of quality of life related to foot problems, the case group compared to the controls showed: for physical function (79.86 ± 26.38 vs. 92.63 ± 11 0.17, p < 0.001); for the physical role (73.68 ± 41.00 vs. 88.48 ± 27.51, p < 0.0022); for body pain (45.81 ± 27.18 vs. 73.68 ± 41.00, p < 0.035); and for general health (60.36 ± 30.58 vs. 68.71 ± 18.52, p < 0.047). The differences between groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, which showed statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In the rural population, people with foot pathologies present a worse quality of life compared to those who do not present foot pathology, especially for the health domains: physical function, physical role, body pain and health general. Keywords: Foot disabilities; Health-related quality of life; Questionnaire; Rural-urban disparities.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Internationalhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/article10.1016/j.jtv.2023.04.007info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess