title: Quality of life among liver transplantation patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage disease. It offers a chance to return to an active and prolonged life. Recently, more attention is being paid to the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients and their spouses or caregivers after OLT. The aim of this study was to analyze the pre- versus posttransplantation HRQoL of patients and their spouses or caregivers using generic and disease-specific health questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed between October 2010 and January 2011 using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) to evaluate the HRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Posttransplantation patients (N=59, mean age 53.39 [range, 23 to 76] years, male 63.2%, female 36.8%) and their spouses and caregivers showed significantly better generic SF-36 HRQoL scores, namely, physical and social functioning, role limitations because of physical or emotional problems, bodily pain, vitality, as well as general and mental health compared with pretransplantation patients (N=57, mean age 54.56 (range, 22 to 69) years, male 71.2%, female 28.8%). Similarly, the posttransplantation group showed significantly improved CLDQ scores in all domains: fatigue, activity, abdominal symptoms, systemic symptoms, emotional function, and worry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OLT improved HRQoL of end-stage liver patients and their spouses or caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sirivatanauksorn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dumronggittigule
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limsrichamrern
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iramaneerat
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolladarungkri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kositamongkol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahawithitwong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asavakarn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tovikkai
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult