Predictors of quality of life in renal transplant recipients

ABSTRACT

The presence of end stage renal disease [ESRD] has a negative impact on patients' quality of life [QOL]. Renal transplantation is well-recognized to provide a better QOL than other modalities of renal replacement therapy. To evaluate the QOL in our renal transplant recipients and to determine the factors that influences it at our institution. Cross-sectional observational study. University Kebangsaan Hospital, Malaysia. Renal transplant recipients between 18 and 75 years who have been transplanted more than one year. QOL was assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire that has been validated in the Malay language. Thirty nine patients [29 male, 10 female] were enrolled. The SF-36 scores were physical functioning [47.85 +/- 6.93], role physical functioning [49.51 + 11.08], general health [51.43 +/- 6.22], vitality [60.53 +/- 6.61], social functioning [50.85 +/- 9.26], mental health [55.74 +/- 7.16], bodily pain [58.55 +/- 7.51], role emotional functioning [49.09 +/- 12.01], physical component summary [49.37 +/- 6.87] and mental component summary [55.23 +/- 6.66]. Predictors of QOL were education [p < 0.001], serum albumin [p = 0.017] and hemoglobin [p = 0.02]. Increasing age negatively impacted physical functioning [p = 0.029]. We also found those who received a commercial transplant had a lower mental health compared to those done locally [p = 0.031]. Predictors of QOL in our renal transplant cohort were age, education, serum albumin and hemoglobin