Patterns and predictors of quality of life at 5 to 10 years after heart transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Although studies have provided us with a cross-sectional analysis of long-term quality of life (QOL) after transplantation, relatively few longitudinal studies have been done that allow us to understand changes in QOL over time. The purposes of our study were to describe QOL over time and identify predictors of QOL longitudinally from 5 to 10 years after heart transplantation.


METHODS
All 555 subjects enrolled in this study completed booklets of questionnaires. These patients had a mean age of approximately 54 years (range 21 to 75 years) at time of transplant. Seventy-eight percent were men and 88% were white. Participants completed nine self-report QOL instruments for this study. Statistical analyses included frequencies, means +/- standard deviations (plotted over time), Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression coupled with repeated measures.


RESULTS
At 5 to 10 years after heart transplantation, recipients reported high levels of satisfaction with overall QOL and with health-related QOL, which was stable over the 5-year period. Predictors of satisfaction with overall QOL (that individually accounted for 1% variance or more) were primarily psychosocial variables (overall model explaining 71% of variance), whereas predictors of satisfaction with QOL related to health and functioning (that also explained > or =1% variance) included symptom distress and physical function, as well as psychosocial variables (overall model explaining 72% of variance).


CONCLUSIONS
At 5 to 10 years after heart transplantation, QOL remained positive and stable. Bio-psychosocial variables predicted satisfaction with overall QOL and health-related QOL. Understanding of these bio-psychosocial variables provides direction for the development of long-term therapeutic strategies after heart transplantation so that patients can have good post-transplant outcomes.
Grady
Kathleen L
KL
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA. kgrady@nmh.org
Naftel
David C
DC
Kobashigawa
Jon
J
Chait
Julie
J
Young
James B
JB
Pelegrin
Dave
D
Czerr
Jennifer
J
Heroux
Alain
A
Higgins
Robert
R
Rybarczyk
Bruce
B
McLeod
Mary
M
White-Williams
Connie
C
Kirklin
James K
JK
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors