Health-related quality of life following kidney and simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation

Introduction Kidney and simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) transplant recipients are younger and fitter than most other dialysis patients, but are also more vulnerable in areas of social, emotional and physical interaction. Few studies have tracked their post-transplant health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aim To assess HRQoL following kidney and SPK transplantation, with comparison to dialysis patients, people with multiple co-morbidities and general population data. Methods Patients completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF (TM)) 1.3 to assess their pre-transplant HRQoL within 4 weeks of transplantation and 12 months later. Demographic and laboratory data were collected on participating patients and on non-participating patients at both time-points. Results Of 118 patients who completed the baseline KDQOL-SF (TM), 75 (57 kidney and 18 SPK) completed the 1 year survey. Compared to baseline, 12 months HRQoL scores improved in all domains except for work status, exceeded those of patients on dialysis and, except for emotional wellbeing and mental health, exceeded the scores of people with multiple co-morbidities. For female transplant recipients, 12 months HRQoL scores were not statistically different from similarly aged women in the general population. Male transplant recipients had similar scores for bodily pain and energy/fatigue, but lower scores in other domains. Compared to kidney-only transplant recipients, SPK recipients achieved higher scores in work and sleep domains. Conclusion Improvements in most HRQoL domains occur within 1 year of kidney or SPK transplantation, and women achieve similar HRQoL to women in the general population. These data are encouraging for patients contemplating transplant listing.