279: Quality of life surveys: Are responders different from non-responders?

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe male and female LT patients’ symptoms before and up to 6 months after LT. Methods and Materials: Subjects completed self-administered instruments before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after transplant. The Transplant Symptom Inventory, a 67-item, two-part instrument, measures symptom frequency and symptom distress on a 5-point likert scale. Rank order and change over time were analyzed with RIDIT analysis and Mantell-Hanzel chi-square. Significance was set at p 0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 163 LT patients, the majority were white (96 females and 67 males. Before LT, both genders ranked shortness of breath (SOB) with activity as the most distressing and most frequently occurring symptom Six months after LT, both genders reported a significant decrease in the frequency of SOB with activity, the frequency and distress for SOB at rest, and a significant decrease in frequency of fatigue, chest tightness, and feelings of lack of control. Females also reported a significant decrease in the frequency of heart palpitations, tiring easily and feelings of helplessness. In contrast, male LT recipients reported a significant decrease in the distress associated with SOB with activity, tiring easily, feeling afraid and feeling sad. Males also reported significant decreases in the frequency of sleepiness, fever, and feeling depressed, helpless and irritable. Negative symptoms reported by females included a significant increase in the frequency of tremors. Negative symptoms reported by males included a significant increase in distress due to the frequent occurrence of tremors, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Conclusions: At six months post LT, both genders reported significantly less SOB and fatigue and a significant decrease in the occurrence of feeling helpless. Male recipients reported more positive improvements as well as more negative symptoms than females. These findings underscore the importance of assessing changes in symptoms over time and to realize that gender differences exist.