Quality of life in long-term survivors of orthotopic heart transplantation.
This study was designed to evaluate quality of life and life changes after heart transplantation in long-term survivors, to compare the patients' results with those obtained from healthy subjects of similar age, and to correlate quality of life with psychological and clinical variables. Questionnaires were mailed to all 43 adult German-speaking transplant patients operated between 1982 and 1986. Forty-one (95%) of this patient population completed the questionnaires; 52 controls answered those questions not addressing transplant-specific issues. 83% of the transplant patients versus 88% of the controls rated global quality of life as "good" or "excellent". Psychological affect and well-being were comparable in both groups. 70% of the transplant patients versus only 30% of the controls stated "to be bothered by symptoms". Despite that response, heart transplant recipients perceived postoperative life changes mostly as positive, although sexual function and professional situation had worsened in 34% and 41%, respectively. Global quality of life correlated best with job satisfaction (r = 0.65, p less than 0.01), satisfaction about health (r = 0.64, p less than 0.01), well being (r = 0.53, p less than 0.01), and everyday life function (r = 0.53, p less than 0.01), and correlated negatively with depression (r = -0.40) and physical symptoms (r = -0.36). The study shows that the subjective quality of life of long-term survivors after heart transplantation is similar to that of healthy individuals of the same age group. Thus, survival is certainly not the only indicator of success; aspects of quality of life must also be included in cost effectiveness and/or cost benefit considerations in transplantation policies.
Angermann
C E
CE
Medizinische Klinik (Klinikum Innenstadt), University of Munich, Germany.
Bullinger
M
M
Spes
C H
CH
Zellner
M
M
Kemkes
B M
BM
Theisen
K
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012803:Sick Role