Our aim was to analyze the differences in quality of life and mental health among liver transplant recipients with better (G(1)) and worse (G(2)) perceived health and decompensated cirrhotic patients (G(3)). We selected two groups of patients: 168 liver transplant recipients and 75 cirrhotic patients. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and SF-36 Health Survey were used. Statistically significant differences showed that cirrhotic patients (G(3)) suffered the highest impairment, and liver transplant recipients with better self-perceived health (G(1)) had the lowest impairment, whereas patients with worse self-perceived health (G(2)) were in an intermediate position between both groups. Moreover, very striking differences, based on large effect sizes, were found among groups on some quality of life dimensions: physical-role, general health, vitality, and physical functioning. In conclusion, the biopsychosocial well-being of liver transplant recipients is better than that of cirrhotic patients, even if the former do not perceive their health positively.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.