Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the quality of life and the therapeutic compliance of the patients who received a liver transplant, from a living or deceased donor, at IRCCS ISMETT in the last three years. Liver transplantation is an effective therapeutic strategy for patients with end-stage liver failure. The quality of life (QOL) of liver disease patients is placed under considerable stress due to the debilitating clinical conditions and related issues experienced in everyday life by these individuals. The concept of QOL is being increasingly used to define the individual perception of health, including physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The success of a liver transplant should therefore be intended not only in terms of survival, but also of recovery of a satisfying quality of life. For this reason, our liver transplant recipients are closely monitored and supported from a psychological standpoint. This is done to monitor their ability to adapt to and comply with their clinical condition and to verify their gradual resumption of their path of life Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data collected by the IRCCS ISMETT Clinical Psychology Service during routine psychological follow-up of liver transplant recipients. Data refer to 82 patients who received a liver transplant between January 2017 and September 2019 and describe their QOL and therapeutic adherence. The obtained results were compared with the main studies on this issue available in literature. Results: Ninety-four percent of liver transplant recipients reported high mean scores of quality of life and therapeutic adherence 28% of patients reported at least one persistent annoying symptom after transplantation, although in some cases this did not affect the overall QOL. The results also refer to patients with a pre-transplant diagnosis of alcohol-related cirrhosis, who confirm their complete abstinence from alcohol. Conclusions: Our results confirm the efficacy of the liver transplantation to achieve of a good QOL. Furthermore, these patients seem to maintain high therapeutic adherence, thus ensuring a good outcome of the care received during the transplantation process.

An investigation of tinnitus, noise sensitivity and anxiety levels in liver transplantation patients in the early and late periods: A cross-sectional study

“…In our study, there was no statistically significant difference in BAI scores between the groups, but the fact that BAI scores in the late period group were higher than those in the early period group suggests that the level of anxiety may increase as the time after transplantation passes. Many factors such as time after liver transplantation, immunosuppressive drugs, adaptation to restrictive lifestyle rules, negative impact on quality of life, coping style with stress, and family environment may be effective in the difference between the studies in the literature [27][28][29]. In addition, the relationship between otologic symptoms and psychological symptoms in transplant patients obtained in our study should not be forgotten.…”

Impact of biliary complications on quality of life in live-donor liver transplant recipients

“…Similarly, in another report[ 49 ], the HRQoL of 82 LT recipients was retrospectively assessed, finding 94% reported high mean scores on HRQoL, the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, and adherence to medications. Conversely, patients with a low HRQoL reported anxiety, depression, fatigue, slowing pace, and physical limitations, suggesting that LT recipients who fail to adapt to their post-LT state experienced a decreased ability to tolerate physical symptoms and post-LT complications[ 50 ]. Other causes for lower mental health scores post-LT are the worry regarding medication side effects, hepatic disease recurrence, and other potential complications[ 51 ].…”

Evaluation of Compliance with Immunosuppressive Treatment and Symptom Occurrence in Patients with Kidney Transplantation

“…Side effects from mandatory post-transplantation immunosuppressive drugs can sometimes negatively impact patients. Studies researching the effects of drugs used after transplantation identified that physical symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, excessive appetite increase, backache and headache, pruritis, dizziness, diarrhea and feeling thirsty were experienced (5,6). At the same time, these patients experienced several psychological and emotional symptoms like depression, irritability, fatigue and hand tremors (6).…”