title: Quality of life in kidney transplantation from marginal donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enhancement of the subjective components, recognition of overall needs, and careful consideration of subjectively perceived quality of life among dialysis and/or transplanted patients appear to be key objectives to promote optimized adherence to treatment and active cooperation of the patient. This study explores the relationship between self-rated health among recipients of kidney transplantations from deceased marginal donors (age older than 55 years) in relation to gender, age, time on dialysis, years after transplantation, and donor age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Posttransplant quality of life was assessed with the Complete Form Health Survey (SF-36) in 70 recipients of kidney transplantations from marginal deceased donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Donor age did not negatively influence health status perceived by the subjects. The vitality and mental health seemed to increase with greater donor ages, but the status of perceived health, vitality, social activities, and mental health were negatively influenced by the age of the transplant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that good general health and social well-functioning can be achieved also among recipients of organs from older donors. Thus, age alone should not be a barrier to organ donation, providing that the organ function is normal and that specific disease is absent in the organ.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pistorio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuffrida
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ekser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zerbo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giaquinta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D046148:Donor Selection; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016896:Treatment Outcome