Pain after heart transplantation: prevalence and implications for quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Because of increasing survival rates among transplant recipients, there is now growing attention on evaluating and enhancing patient quality of life (QOL) during these extended years of survival.


OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the prevalence of pain among heart-transplant recipients, and the extent to which pain may affect QOL posttransplant.


METHODS
Ninety-two heart recipients completed a questionnaire, including measures of QOL and demographics.


RESULTS
Almost half of all patients (46%) reported at least mild pain, and 21% reported moderate to very severe pain. Across all Health Survey (SF-36) domains, patients with at least mild pain reported worse QOL than the general population. Those with no or very mild pain reported social functioning and mental health comparable to population norms. Patients with at least mild pain were also less likely to be employed.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the effects of pain on QOL in transplant patients, increased attention toward more effective clinical assessment and treatment of pain is warranted.
Holtzman
Susan
S
Dept. of Psychology, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1V7. susan.holtzman@ubc.ca
Abbey
Susan E
SE
Stewart
Donna E
DE
Ross
Heather J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires