Assessment of the Perceived Quality of Life of Successful Kidney Transplant Recipients and Their Donors Pre- and Post-Transplantation

Abstract

BackgroundWith advanced medical technology, quality of life (QOL) has assumed immense importance. In India, there has been scant research on the QOL of patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease and their respective donors who make transplantation possible. MethodsWe assessed and compared the QOL of successful kidney transplant recipients (n = 30) and their living-related donors (n = 30) before and after kidney transplantation. ResultsFor recipients, on the interview schedule the post-transplant QOL score (M = 1528.23, SD = 48.50) was higher than the pretransplant QOL score (M = 1075.80, SD = 95.34; P < .01). On the KDQOL SF 1.3, the physical and mental composite median QOL scores were significantly higher (P < .01) in the post-transplant (49.68, 61.43) than the pretransplant period (29.51, 34.09). For donors, on the interview schedule, the overall post-donation QOL score (M = 463.63, SD = 1.61) was higher than the predonation QOL score (M = 437.07, SD = 8.14; P < .01). On the KDQOL SF 1.3, the mental composite median post-donation QOL score (60.70) was higher than the predonation score (59.84; P < .01). ConclusionKidney transplantation/donation improved the QOL of patients and donors.