Predictors of Quality of Life after Liver Transplant

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis: The impact of chronic liver diseases on patients and their family member is often understated and understudied. Chronic liver diseases can sometimes progress to a need for Liver transplant (LT). While recent studies have described quality of life (QOL) at different stages of liver disease, the impact of the patient’s QOL in LT survivors has not been examined. The importance of studying QOL in patients is due to its effect on the survivorship of LT recipients. We hypothesize that QOL in LT patients is lower than the general population. Our aim was to describe predictors of QOL in a well-described cohort of LT patients.
 Methods: Patients were enrolled at the Digestive and Liver Disease Liver clinic at Indiana University Hospital. All patients over the age of 18 were approached, if patients consented to the study, they were then enrolled during their liver follow up visit. The PROMIS survey was administered on an iPad and completed during the clinic visit. Survey were then scored and analyzed.
 Results: The T-scores for post liver transplant patients are lower in physical function, anxiety and depression, but higher in general life satisfaction compared to the general population. LT recipients have similar T-scores in Fatigue, Sleep disturbance, ability to participate in social activities, and pain interference compared to the general population.
 Conclusion and Potential Impact: Previous diagnosis of PBC, HCC, diagnosis of depression, household income, insurance status, Charlson Comorbid Index and number of non-transplant related medications have the highest association with quality of life. Further enrollment is needed to increase the power of the study. However, this can inform physicians the importance to taking these factors in to consideration in order to improve the QOL in LT recipients.