title: Factors associated with self-rated health after kidney transplantation: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective study explores and compares the relationship between patients' self-rated health (SRH) after kidney transplantation (KT) at different follow-up periods and its medical and nonmedical predictors over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 128) who completed a questionnaire (the SRH question of the SF-36 and the End-Stage Renal Disease Symptom Checklist - Transplantation Module) were enrolled. Clinical data were retrieved from medical files. The sample was stratified into early (n = 89) and late (n = 39) cohorts according to time since KT at baseline. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of SRH at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cohorts, a change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over time remained a predictor of SRH; in the early cohort, age was an additional predictor; in the late cohort, a change in transplantation-associated psychological distress over time and the number of late acute rejection episodes during the observation period were additional predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in GFR over time predicted better SRH at each period after KT. Decreased transplantation-associated psychological distress and fewer late acute rejection episodes seemed to predict better SRH at a later follow-up period. Despite these observations, higher SRH was associated with better clinical outcomes.
authors: Nephrology and Dialysis Centre, Fresenius Medical Care, Kosice, Slovakia. mamajern@gmail.com
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Majernikova
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Prihodova
authors: Jaroslav
authors: J
authors: Rosenberger
authors: Iveta
authors: I
authors: Nagyova
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Roland
authors: Johan W
authors: JW
authors: Groothoff
authors: Jitse P
authors: JP
authors: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents