Exploring quality of life among renal and liver transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the worldwide recognition of the importance of quality of life (QOL) assessment, research data on QOL for renal and liver transplant recipients are limited. The main objective of this study was to explore and compare QOL in renal and liver transplant patients.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted at at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
Saudis 16 years of age or more who received liver or renal transplantation at least three months before the study participated. QOL was evaluated using the World Health Organization QOL instrument (WHOQOL-BREF).


RESULTS
Renal and liver transplant patients were highly or moderately satisfied with most circumstances of life. Using data for subjects in all WHO centers, renal and liver transplant patients domain scores in this study were significantly higher in the psychological health domain, social relations and environmental domain (P < .0001). The results also show that renal and liver transplant recipients who were male, or had higher education or who were employed had higher QOL scores.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that both renal and liver transplant recipients achieved very high QOL domain scores as compared with international data. Lower QOL was significantly associated with social disadvantages, suggesting that these patients may require more focused attention and counselling following transplantation.
Abdulmalik
A
Alkatheri
Abdulkareem
A
Al Bekairy
Salah Aburuz, PhD, College of Pharmacy,, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences,, National Guard Health Affairs,, National Guard Road,, Riyadh 11008, Saudi Arabia, aburuzs@ksau-hs.edu.sa,, aburuz@ju.edu.jo.
Salah
S
Aburuz
Amjad
A
Qandil
Nabil
N
Khalidi
Khalid
K
Abdullah
Sayyari
S
Al Sayyari
Rami
R
Bustami
Shmeylan
S
Al Harbi
Sultan
S
Al Raddadi
Khalifah
K
Al Thiab
Khalid
K
Bin Saleh
Abdulrahman
A
Al Shaya
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult