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Health‐related quality of life may improve after transplantation in pancreas–kidney recipients
Author(s) -
Martins La Salete,
Outerelo Cristina,
Malheiro Jorge,
Fonseca Isabel M.,
Henriques António C.,
Dias Leonídio S.,
Rodrigues Anabela S.,
Cabrita António M.,
Noronha Irene L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12511
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , transplantation , kidney transplantation , pancreas transplantation , multivariate analysis , health related quality of life , diabetes mellitus , physical therapy , surgery , disease , endocrinology , nursing
Pancreas–kidney transplantation (PKT) may significantly improve quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with type 1 diabetes. We have assessed the changes felt by PKT patients, using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and EuroQol‐5D questionnaires. Patients were asked to compare how their HRQOL had changed from pre‐transplantation to the last visit. The 60 men and 66 women enrolled had a mean follow‐up of five yr; 84.1% with both grafts, 15.9% with one graft functioning. In all domains of EuroQol‐5D scores improved after PKT, as well as the visual analogue scale health state (from 38% to 84%, p < 0.001; effect size 3.34). In GIQLI, physical function was felt better after PKT than before (14.83 ± 3.86 vs. 7.86 ± 4.43, p < 0.001; effect size 1.68); the same was observed for psychological status, social function, and GI complaints. Concerning the burden of medical treatment, the score significantly improved (from 1.31 to 3.63, p < 0.001, effect size 2.02). The rate of unemployed patients decreased after PKT (from 50.8% to 36.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that having only one functioning graft was associated with worse HRQOL scores ( B = −5.157, p = 0.015). In conclusion, for all assessed domains, patients reported a significant improvement in HRQOL after PKT. Maintenance of the two grafts functioning predicted higher improvement of HRQOL scores.