Crosssectional study of quality of life after renal transplant in end stage renal disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: End stage renal disease (ERD) is a psychologically debilitating illness with considerable emotional morbidity. There is variation in quality of life and mental health status among recipients and donor at different stages of kidney transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is an observational analytic study. Sample for the study comprised of forty (40) consecutive patients including 20 recipients and 20 donors of 20 kidney transplantations, male and female, and who themselves/whose relatives provided written informed consent were included in the study. Both recipients and donors were followed-up from 2 weeks prior to transplant surgery to 6 months post-operatively by phone and when they came for review in Nephrology Out-Patient Department (OPD). Quality of life and mental health status was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Study groups were homogeneous on age, education, gender and marital status. After transplantation recipient's mean score in all parameters had increased and all changes were statistically significant (<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study significant changes in quality of life (QOL), and mental health status in recipients and donors before and after transplantation were noted. It is recommended to evaluate mental health related aspects of both donors and recipients.