Biopsychosocial functioning among cirrhotic patients in various stages of transplant process in comparison to liver transplant recipients

Abstract

Background: Although assessment of pre- and post-transplant quality of life is a current scientific target; it has not yet been carried out throughout the entire transplant process.

Aims: 1) To analyze differences in mental health and quality of life at pre-waiting-list-study, waiting list, and post-transplant phases; 2) to analyze correlation between these quality-of-life and affective variables and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores.

Methods: Two liver patient groups were recruited: 51 cirrhotic patients, who were assessed at two different stages (at pre-waiting-list-study and waiting-list phases), and 51 cadaveric liver transplant recipients; groups were homogeneous in gender and age variables by matching. Anxiety-depressive symptomatology and quality of life were assessed by HADS and SF-36 Health Survey, respectively.

Results: Pre-waiting-list-study patients self-perceived their global health status much worse than transplant recipients. Waiting-list patients displayed much higher anxiety, more role limitations due to physical problems, worse physical functioning, as well as perceiving their global health status much worse than transplant recipients. Statistically significant correlations were only found in waiting-list patients between MELD-Anxiety and MELD-Social Functioning subscales.

Conclusions: Waiting-list patients displayed the worst biopsychosocial well-being status; liver transplant recipients enjoyed the best status instead.