LONG-TERM HEALTH-STATUS AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE OUTCOMES OF LUNG-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Study objective: Health status and quality of life (QOL) in lung trans plant candidates and recipients were compared to determine the impact of transplantation, and whether recipients experience continued improv ements in the years after transplant surgery. Design: Two patient grou ps, adult lung transplant candidates (n=44) and adult lung transplant recipients (n=54), completed self-report QOL questionnaires. Eighteen of the 54 recipients completed QOL questionnaires on two occasions, ab out 18 months apart, after lung transplant, The questionnaire included the Medical Outcome Study Health Survey (MOS 20) that assesses six di mensions of health-related QOL: physical, role and social function, me ntal health, health perceptions and bodily pain, as well as a self-rep ort Karnofsky Index and other indicators of QOL. Setting: University m edical center transplant service. Results: Compared with candidates, r ecipients reported higher levels of happiness and more satisfaction wi th their life and their health. They also reported better function on the Karnofsky Index and in every MOS 20 dimension (p<0.0001), except p ain, No significant differences were found in comparisons among recipi ents, grouped by the time since their transplant, Eighteen recipients completed two QOL questionnaires after transplant. No significant diff erences were found between the earlier (median, 11 months) and later ( median, 29 months) QOL responses for this group overall. However, reci pients (n=5) who developed obliterative bronchiolitis between assessme nts showed decrements in their health-related QOL, Dimensions particul arly affected were physical and social functioning and bodily pain. Co nclusions: Dramatic improvements in health status and QOL occur after successful lung transplant and remain stable over time. Obliterative b ronchiolitis results in notable QOL reductions.