Quality of life after liver transplantation

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Abstract
Because of the increasing number of liver transplantations with longer periods of transplant function, there is a growing need for quality of life research in this field. (see: Consensus Conference on Quality of Life Assessment in Surgery, 1989). In addition to morbidity, mortality and rehabilitation, parameters of “Quality of Life” are evaluated: the patient's rating of his subjective physical symptoms, psychological condition (anxiety, depression and mental adjustment), social reintegration and life satisfaction. Using the methods developed by the Hamburg study group on “Quality of Life in Surgery” 38 liver transplantation patients at the University of Chicago (cross‐sectional‐study with control groups of patients with chronic liver disease as well as healthy individuals) and 29 patients at the University Clinic of Hamburg (longitudinal study with points of evaluation before and 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after transplantation) have been evaluated. First results: 1. All successfully transplanted patients show a significant postoperative increase of their overall quality of life. 2. The psychological parameters of quality of life are only partly correlated with physical symptoms. 3. There is a high correlation between rejection episodes and the decrease of all quality of life parameters. 4. In both samples men have a lower quality of life than women. 5. Preoperative depression and lack of social support might be considered as being possible risk factors for long‐term survival. 6. Long‐term survivors rate their quality of life significantly higher than patients with chronic liver disease and despite persisting somatic restrictions, as high as healthy controls.