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General Health, Health‐Related Quality of Life and Sexual Health After Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Nationwide Study
Author(s) -
Kosola S.,
Lampela H.,
Lauronen J.,
Mäkisalo H.,
Jalanko H.,
Qvist E.,
Pakarinen M. P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03819.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , reproductive health , liver transplantation , orgasm , health related quality of life , pediatrics , transplantation , sexual dysfunction , population , environmental health , disease , nursing
The long‐term impact of pediatric liver transplantation (LT) and its complications on general health, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and sexual health were assessed. We conducted a national cross‐sectional study of all pediatric recipients who underwent LT between 1987 and 2007. Of 66 survivors, 57 participants (86%) were compared to randomly chosen healthy controls (n = 141) at 10.7 ± 6.6 years posttransplant. PedsQL4.0, SF‐36, DISF‐SR and AUDIT questionnaires for appropriate age groups were used. Patients and controls <7 years had similar HRQoL and 54% of patients aged over 7 scored within the controls’ normal range on all HRQoL domains. In adult survivors, physical functioning and general health were decreased (p < 0.05). Biliary complications, reoperations and obesity were independently associated with reduced HRQoL (p < 0.05 for all). Still 64% of adult survivors considered their health excellent. Sexual health was similar to controls but LT recipients may experience problems with their orgasm strength (p = 0.050) and condom‐based contraception was more common after LT than among controls (58% and 12%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, normal HRQoL and sexual health are achievable post‐LT.