title: Factors associated with health-related quality of life after successful kidney transplantation: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kidney transplantation improves the quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients. The quality of life benefits, however, pertain to patients on average, not to all transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life after kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based study with a cross-sectional design was carried out and quality of life was assessed by SF-36 Health Survey Version 1. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed with sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data as independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and seventy-two kidney recipients with a functioning graft were analyzed. Hypertension, diabetes, higher serum creatinine and lower hematocrit were independently and significantly associated with lower scores for the SF-36 oblique physical component summary (PCSc). The final regression model explained 11% of the PCSc variance. The scores of oblique mental component summary (MCSc) were worse for females, patients with a lower income, unemployed and patients with a higher serum creatinine. The regression model explained 9% of the MCSc variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the studied variables, comorbidity and graft function were the main factors associated with the PCSc, and sociodemographic variables and graft function were the main determinants of MCSc. Despite comprehensive, the final regression models explained only a little part of the heath-related quality of life variance. Additional factors, such as personal, environmental and clinical ones might influence quality of life perceived by the patients after kidney transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. mbohlke@conesul.com.br
authors.forename: Maristela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohlke
authors.forename: Stela S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Lisoneide
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terhorst
authors.forename: Rafael H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Franklin C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Barcellos
authors.forename: Maria Claudia C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Irigoyen
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sesso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life