Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation and health-related quality of life

The present study was undertaken to assess the relationship between health- related quality of life (HRQOL) and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) , as both represent important parameters of outcome after lung transplantat ion. HRQOL was measured both cross-sectionally and longitudinally by standa rdized patient self-administered questionnaires, including the Nottingham H ealth Profile, the State-trait Anxiety Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Depr ession Scale, and the Index of Well-Being. Data were collected at 4 and 7 m o, and every 6 mo afterwards for as long as 49 mo post-transplantation. The number of patients who completed the questionnaires Varied from 72 at 4 mo , to 27 at 49 mo after transplantation. Cross-sectionally, the patients wit h BOS reported persistently statistically significantly more restrictions o n the dimensions energy and physical mobility of the Nottingham Health Prof ile compared with patients without BOS. Other domains, i.e., pain, sleep, s ocial interaction, and emotional reactions, were not affected. Additionally , patients with BOS reported statistically significantly more depressive sy mptoms and anxiety 1 and 2 yr after transplantation. Results from the longi tudinal analysis support these findings, although no change in depressive s ymptoms could be found after onset of BOS. This study suggests that all lun g transplant recipients improve in HRQOL. The development of BOS, however, is associated with a significantly reduced HRQOL.