title: Predictors of quality of life in patients evaluated for liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is severely impaired in advanced liver disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of actual liver function and disease-specific factors on HRQOL of patients evaluated for liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Disease-specific QOL was analyzed in 142 patients evaluated for liver transplantation using the German version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ-D). We performed quantitative liver function tests and collected clinical and demographical data of patients after their referral to our transplant department. Values were correlated with CLDQ-D scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) nor dynamic liver function test results were related to quality of life. Serum albumin concentration was a strong but not independent factor correlated with global CLDQ-D (r = 0.269, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of global CLDQ-D were ascites and butyrylcholinesterase serum concentration (B = -0.486, p < 0.001 and B = 0.196, p = 0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Actual liver function is not related to decreased quality of life, whereas ascites and hypoproteinemia represent the major factors influencing physical and social aspects of daily life in potential liver transplant candidates.
authors: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Maximilian
authors: M
authors: Jara
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Bednarsch
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Malinowski
authors: Katja
authors: K
authors: Lüttgert
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Orr
authors: Gero
authors: G
authors: Puhl
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Seehofer
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Neuhaus
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Stockmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ascites; health-related quality of life; hypoproteinemia; liver transplantation; quality of life; transplant candidates