Open AccessLower quality of life in young men after pediatric kidney transplantation when compared to healthy controls and survivors of childhood leukemia—a cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Endén Kira,
Tainio Juuso,
Jalanko Hannu,
Jahnukainen Kirsi,
Jahnukainen Timo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/tri.13040
Subject(s) - medicine , psychosocial , quality of life (healthcare) , transplantation , beck depression inventory , cross sectional study , kidney transplantation , childhood leukemia , young adult , leukemia , dialysis , kidney disease , pediatrics , lymphoblastic leukemia , anxiety , psychiatry , nursing , pathology
Summary Data about health‐related quality of life ( HRQOL ) in adult recipients after pediatric kidney transplantation ( KT x) are scarce. In this nationwide questionnaire‐based study, HRQOL and social status in young adult men having undergone KT x during childhood ( n = 29) were studied and compared to age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls ( n = 56) and survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( n = 52) comprising controls with another chronic disease of childhood. Altogether 41% of the KT x recipients, 50% of the leukemia survivors and 80% of the healthy controls lived in a permanent relationship. When compared with leukemia survivors, the KT x recipients reported significantly more bodily pain and worse general health ( RAND ‐36). Older age at time of study, longer duration of dialysis, multiple transplantations and diminished graft function correlated with lower scores. The KT x recipients had a significantly higher mean Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) score than the leukemia survivors ( P = 0.000) or the healthy controls ( P = 0.006). BDI scores were highest in patients who lived without a partner or children had lower educational level or were unemployed. KT x recipients had significantly lower HRQOL scores than their healthy and controls with childhood chronic disease. Early detection of psychosocial problems and poor physical functioning among these patients is warranted.