Pretransplant variables associated with quality of life in liver transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
With an increasing number of liver transplant recipients living, understanding quality-of-life issues is essential. Our goal is to identify pretransplant variables associated with post-transplant quality of life in liver transplant recipients.


METHODS
Three hundred and eight liver transplant recipients were administered the Short Form 36 and a basic demographical questionnaire. Variables associated with post-transplant quality of life were studied in a multivariate regression analysis. Interaction terms were used to examine effect modification.


RESULTS
Male gender, longer pretransplant work hours and interaction term between work hours and male gender were independently associated with Physical Functioning. Work hours positively correlated with Role-Physical, while viral hepatitis and ascites were negatively associated with Role-Physical. Ascites and viral hepatitis were independently negatively associated with Bodily Pain. Encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma and viral hepatitis were independently associated with General Health. Ascites was also negatively associated with Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, Bodily Pain, General Health and Vitality. Viral hepatitis was negatively correlated with Vitality and Mental Functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Pretransplant variables such as ascites, encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, viral hepatitis, work hours, time unable to work and gender were significantly associated with post-transplant quality of life in liver transplant recipients. Interventions addressing these issues may be initiated to improve the post-transplant quality of life.
Saab
Sammy
S
Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. ssaab@mednet.ucla.edu
Ibrahim
Ayman B
AB
Surti
Bijal
B
Durazo
Francisco
F
Han
Steven
S
Yersiz
Hasan
H
Farmer
Douglas G
DG
Ghobrial
R Mark
RM
Goldstein
Leonard I
LI
Tong
Myron J
MJ
Busuttil
Ronald W
RW
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires