Quality of life in patients awaiting lung transplant: Cystic fibrosis versus other end-stage lung diseases

The symptoms associated with chronic lung disease can impair quality of lif e and psychosocial functioning. The purpose of the present study was to pro vide a thorough baseline assessment of quality of life in patients with end -stage lung disease and being evaluated for transplant; and to assess poten tial differences in quality of life between patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF) and those with other types of end-stage lung disease (e.g., chronic obs tructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)). We evaluated 58 patients with CF and 52 patients with other types of end-st age lung disease who were recruited for this study during an assessment of their candidacy for lung transplant. Subjects completed a battery of questi onnaires that assessed demographic factors (including work and educational status), the presence of psychological distress (anxiety and depression), a vailability of social support, coping styles, and physical functioning. Despite significant impairment in physical functioning in the areas of recr eation, household activities, sleep, and ambulation, other indices of life quality suggested good adaptation in the majority of patients. Also, qualit y of life differed for patients with CF and for those with other types of e nd-stage lung disease. Patients with CF were more likely to be working, had lower levels of anxiety and higher levels of social support, and used more functional coping strategies than did patients with other end-stage lung d isease. These results highlight the fact that patients with different types of lung disease may require different psychosocial services as they await transpla nt. These findings also raise the question of whether there is a difference in quality of life after transplant between patients with CF and those wit h other types of lung disease. Pediatr Pulmonol, 2000;30:453-460, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.