title: Factors associated with health-related quality of life in renal transplant recipients: results of a national survey in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to identify factors associated with health related quality of life (HRQOL) through a comprehensive analysis of sociodemographic and clinical variables among a representative sample size of renal transplant recipients (RTR) in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional multicenter study was carried out in 2008. All RTR over 18 years old with a functioning graft for at least one year were included. Data included socio-demographic, health status, and treatment characteristics. To evaluate HRQOL, the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and a HRQOL instrument for RTR (ReTransQol) were administered. Multivariate linear regression models were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1061 RTR were included, with a return rate of 72.5%. The variance explained in regression models of SF-36 ranges from 20% to 40% and from 9% to 33% for ReTransQol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The originality of our study's findings was that novel variables, particularly treatment side effects and unemployment, have a negative effect on quality of life of RTR. The French Biomedicine Agency and the National Health Institute for Public Health Surveillance conduct specific actions for professional reintegration and therapeutic education programs in the national plan to improve the HRQOL of people living with chronic diseases.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beauger
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Speyer
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jouve
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dussol
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquelinet
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briançon
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents