QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENTS AT ONE, 2, AND 5 YEARS AFTER LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

We prospectively studied adult liver transplant (OLTX) recipients to e valuate the effect of OLTX on quality of life (QOL), Over an 8-year pe riod, all adult patients undergoing OLTX at our institution were asked to complete a psychological questionnaire that probed broad facets of QOL, Patients seen for their 1, 2, and 5 or more-year post-OLTX visit s were also asked to complete the form. Questions were then grouped by categories broadly highlighting self-image (SI), health perception (H P), ability to function (F), and ability to work (W). Questions ranged from demographic and occupational topics to symptom distress/frequenc y, activities of daily living, and the impact of health on daily life, Numerical scores were assigned to each question, and added to derive scores on SI, HP, and F, Higher scores reflect better QOL, Employment data (W) were also compared, though not amenable to scoring, A total o f 573 forms were completed (210 pretransplant, 150 at 1 year, 131 at 2 years, 79 at 5 years), Ah posttransplant scores were significantly hi gher than pretransplant ones (P less than or equal to.0001, ANOVA), Sc ores at posttransplant time points were not significantly different fr om each other, Subscores of SI and HP revealed less symptom frequency and distress following OLTX (P less than or equal to.0003) continuing to beyond 5 years, Health limitations on activities decreased both at 1 year post-OLTX and again at 2 years (P less than or equal to.0001) a nd were sustained to beyond 5 years, Fewer people were working for pay at 1 year post-compared with pre-OLTX, but pre-OLTX levels of employm ent had been regained by the second year, continuing to increase to be yond 5 years. OLTX leads to improved QOL by the end of the first postt ransplant year, sustained through the 5th posttransplant year and beyo nd, Self-image, functioning ability, and perception of health status w ere significantly improved, Ill health interference in daily life cont inues to decrease as OLTX becomes more remote, Employment suffers earl y after OLTX, but recovers by the second post-OLTX year and continues to increase long-term.