Impact of pancreas transplantation on the quality of life of diabetic renal transplant recipients.
Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPKT) is considered to be the best method of treatment for patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) resulting from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The aim of the study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients with IDDM and CRF subjected to SPK or kidney transplantation alone (KTA).


METHODS
We analyzed 21 patients after SPKT with good function of both grafts. The results were compared with 17 patients with functioning kidney grafts. Minimal observation time was 6 months. QOL was evaluated using Kidney Disease and Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF), which was sent to recipients by post. Results were presented as medians and interquartile ranges of calculated scored KDQOL-SF points.


RESULTS
Observation time was 30 months (range, 6-85). Analyzed groups did not differ as regards patient age at transplantation or duration of diabetes and dialysis treatment before transplantation. After SPKT patients reported higher QOL compared with KTA as regards symptom/problem list, 90.91 (86.36-95.46) versus 84.09 (75.00-90.91; P = .04), effects of kidney disease, 90.63 (84.38-93.75) versus 81.25 (68.75-82.14; P = .001); cognitive function, 93.33 (86.67-100.00) versus 80.00 (73.33-93.33; P = .03); overall health, 80.00 (70.00-90.00) versus 50.00 (50.00-70.00; P = .001); physical functioning, 90.00 (75.00-100.00) versus 80.00 (55.00-85.00; P = .03); and pain, 100.00 (90.00-100.00) versus 67.50 (45.00-90.00; P = .005), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
SPKT had a positive impact on selected parameters of QOL among patients with IDDM and CRF compared to KTA.
Ziaja
J
J
Department of General, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Francuska 20-24, 40-027 Katowice, Poland. ziacek@mp.pl
Bozek-Pajak
D
D
Kowalik
A
A
Król
R
R
Cierpka
L
L
D002102:Cadaver; D003071:Cognition; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D014019:Tissue Donors