Quality of Life Assessment in a Living Donor Kidney Transplantation Program: Evaluation of Recipients and Donors

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Lopes, A (Author) Other; Frade, IC (Author) Other; Teixeira, L (Author) ICBAS; Almeida, M (Author) Other; Dias, L (Author) Other; Henriques, AC (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Transplantation Proceedings

Vol. 45

Pages: 1106-1109

ISSN: 0041-1345

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-005-1TM

DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2013.02.100

Abstract (EN): Background. Quality of life (QOL) in donors before and after living kidney donor transplantation (LKDT) has been an important concern. Investigation of these issues in related recipients is not as common. Since 2002, a protocol of psychosocial evaluation for donors and recipients was included in the living kidney donation program. We sought to evaluate QOL in donors and recipients, before and after transplantation, and to compare the 2 groups. Methods. Before and after transplantation, 35 recipients and 45 donors completed a Sociodemographic Questionnaire and Short-Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). The Wilcoxon test, Mann Whitney test, and logistic regression were applied. Results. Before transplantation, recipients had lower QOL values than donors for all dimensions (P < .05), with the exception of Mental Health. After transplantation, they had higher values (P < .05) for every dimension on the SF-36. Among donors, there were no significant changes. Physical function and social function were considered poorer by donors versus recipients (P < .05). Conclusions. In this LKDT program, more females were donors and fewer were recipients. Most of donors were siblings. All donors were related (the Portuguese law pertaining to unrelated donation was enacted in 2007). QOL was significantly poorer among recipients before surgery. After surgery, QOL significantly improved in recipients and was not poorer in donors. LKDT improved recipients' lives and did not affect donors' negatively.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4