Predictors of employment after liver transplantation.
Employment after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) indicates recipients' physical/psychosocial adjustment. Our aim was to determine clinical, socioeconomic and health-related quality of life parameters influencing employment after OLT. Questionnaire on demographics, medical conditions, alcohol and drug use before/after OLT, and a validated 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) were mailed to 126 adult OLT patients. Stepwise logistic regression was conducted to identify best predictors of post-OLT employment. Among non-retirees, 49% were employed after OLT. The predictors of employment were: employment status, income, disability status before OLT and Model of End Stage Liver Disease score. These variables had prediction rate of 82%. Individuals working during the five yr prior to OLT were likely to return to work (p<0.0001), particularly those who held a job for >6 months prior to OLT (p<0.0001), income>$80 000 before OLT compared with <$30 000 (p=0.036). Patients receiving Social Security Insurance (SSI) payment for >or=6 months prior to OLT, were less likely to work (p=0.0005). Severity/duration of liver dysfunction prior to OLT did not correlate with employment. Sense of physical health was poorer in those employed after OLT than in unemployed (p=0.0003). Socioeconomic factors were the most important predictors of post-OLT employment.
Sahota
Amandeep
A
Liver Transplantation Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Zaghla
Hassan
H
Adkins
Rodney
R
Ramji
Alnoor
A
Lewis
Susan
S
Moser
Jennifer
J
Sher
Linda S
LS
Fong
Tse-Ling
TL
D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome