Life satisfaction following heart transplantation.

Abstract

This study investigated perceived life satisfaction and quality of life reported by heart transplant recipients. The impact of life change following transplantation and problems associated with side-effects of the immunosuppressive therapy were also examined. Questionnaires were mailed to one hundred heart transplant recipients. All had survived at least six months after the operation. Seventy-five completed the questionnaire. Eighty-nine percent of those reported good to excellent quality of life. Life satisfaction was reported as good to very satisfactory by 82%. The considerable change in life style following transplantation was mostly perceived as positive. All recipients experienced some side-effects from the immunosuppressive therapy. However, these physical symptoms had little impact upon the overall positive evaluation of life quality and life satisfaction.