Adolescent health-related quality of life following liver and kidney transplantation.
Health perceptions of adolescent transplant patients should be considered in providing appropriate healthcare.


OBJECTIVE
(i) quantify health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescent liver and kidney transplant patients, (ii) compare caregiver ratings of their children's HRQOL to adolescent self-reports and (iii) examine the relationship between HRQOL and disease-specific disability (DSD). Adolescent liver (n = 51) and kidney (n = 26) transplant recipients and caregivers were surveyed using the CHQ-CF87 and CHQ-PF50. DSD scores were calculated for each patient. The response rate was >70%. Adolescent's psychological and physical health was similar to a healthy population, but general health poorer (p = 0.0006). Caretakers reported lower physical functioning and general health (p = 0.0001) but similar psychological health to a normative population. All caregivers expressed negative emotional impact of their child's health on themselves and family activities (p = 0.0001). Positive correlations were found between liver transplant recipients and caregivers: perceptions of behavior (ICC = 0.55, p < 0.001), mental health (ICC = 0.56, p < 0.001), self-esteem (ICC = 0.68, p <or=0.001). Positive correlations were found for kidney transplant patients and caregivers: physical function (ICC = 0.85, p < 0.001), bodily pain (ICC = 0.70, p < 0.001), behavior (ICC = 0.67, p < 0.01). Kidney transplant recipients showed negative correlations between physical functioning (R = -0.76, p = 0.0003) and general health (R =-0.60, p = 0.008) with overall DSD. Physical and psychological functioning of adolescent liver and kidney transplant patients is high. Caregivers may serve as adequate proxies of psychological but not physical health.
Sundaram
S S
SS
Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Landgraf
J M
JM
Neighbors
K
K
Cohn
R A
RA
Alonso
E M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010465:Perception; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept