Correlation of health-related quality of life after liver transplant with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a correlation exists between the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after liver transplant (LT).


METHODS
Prospective cohort.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Adult LT recipients (N = 209).


METHODS
Postoperative HRQOL over a 1-year period after LT as measured via multiple regression-based path analysis testing the effects of the MELD score, preoperative variables, and postoperative variables on scores on the physical component summary and mental component summary scales of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and on composite physical and mental HRQOL scores derived from multiple scales.


RESULTS
The MELD score (beta = .16), cholestatic cirrhosis (beta = .12), autoimmune/metabolic disease (beta = .18), neoplasm (beta = .23), time after LT (beta = .16), and the Karnofsky score (beta = .49) had significant effects on the physical component summary scale score. Autoimmune/metabolic disease (beta = .16) and the Karnofsky score (beta = .25) had significant effects on the mental component summary scale score. The MELD score (beta = .15), high school education (beta = .15), college education (beta = .17), autoimmune/metabolic disease (beta = .15), neoplasm (beta = .23), time after LT (beta = .11), and the Karnofsky score (beta = .51) had significant effects on the composite physical HRQOL score. Autoimmune/metabolic disease (beta = .23), neoplasm (beta = .15), and the Karnofsky score (beta = .42) had significant effects on the composite mental HRQOL score.


CONCLUSIONS
An increasing MELD score, when computed without any diagnosis-based exception points, was associated with improved physical HRQOL in the first year after LT. The MELD score did not affect mental HRQOL.
Castaldo
Eric T
ET
Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1313 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37232-4753, USA.
Feurer
Irene D
ID
Russell
Robert T
RT
Pinson
C Wright
CW
D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life