Prospective psychosocial monitoring of living kidney donors using the Short Form-36 health survey: results at 12 months

BACKGROUND: Lack of prospective psychosocial outcome studies on living kidney donors impedes identification of risk factors for poor outcome. METHODS: Psychiatric assessment of living kidney donors was performed preoperatively and at 4 and 12 months postoperatively using a semistructured interview, the Short Form (SF)-36 Health Survey, and Patient Health Questionnaire psychiatric assessment. A total of 48 of 51 consecutive donors (94%) over a 5-year period were available for follow-up and completed all assessments. RESULTS: At preoperative assessment, only 1 of the 48 donors (2%) had a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition Axis I psychiatric disorder, but 15 (31%) developed a disorder during the 12 months, a 29% incidence. Disorders were depressive (12%), anxiety (6%), and adjustment (13%). Seven donors (15%) demonstrated a disorder at 12 months (depressive 10%, anxiety 2%, adjustment 2%). There was a corresponding decline in psychosocial function as measured by the SF-36 Mental Component Summary score; it decreased at both 4 and 12 months (P<0.01, P<0.05); for 19% of donors, this was a larger decrease than would be expected for the cohort (>2 standard error of measurement units). Scores for SF-36 scales of General Health and Vitality decreased significantly (P<0.05), as did those of Bodily Pain, indicating greater impairment from pain. Psychiatric disorder at 12 months was associated with donor psychosocial function (Mental Component Summary) and psychiatric disorder at 4 months (P<0.01), physical function (SF-36 Physical Component Summary score) at 4 and 12 months (P<0.01), and recipient psychiatric disorder at 12 months (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Donors should be alerted to possible psychosocial impairment, assessed for risk factors, and monitored for at least 12 months. Treatment should be available.     

Prospective psychosocial evaluation of related kidney donors: Indian perspective

With increasing acceptance of living organ transplantation and growing numbers of organ donors, it becomes important to look for any adverse outcomes in this population. Prospective psychosocial evaluation of living related donors and assessment of the outcome of donation process was done. We also tried to identify any risk factors associated with any adverse event. Between January 2003 and December 2003, 75 consecutive donors (mean age 42.8 +/- 11.6 years; M:F 54:21) were interviewed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively based on a 57-item questionnaire. Objective assessment of anxiety, depression, and social support was done with "modified Beck's depression inventory," "Speilberg's state and trait anxiety," and "social support" questionnaires. The majority (85.3%) of donors had volunteered for donation. There were no major depressive or anxiety disorders following donation. Though 21.3% donors perceived some negative impact on their health, none regretted the decision to donate and most (96%) would encourage organ donation. Prolonged donor hospitalization, persistent pain, poor recipient reciprocation, or recipient death were associated with a poor psychosocial outcome.     

Health-related quality of life of living kidney donors: review of the short form 36-health questionnaire survey

Kidney transplantation is the ultimate goal and the best treatment for most patients with end-stage renal disease. Organ shortage and steadily growing waiting time for a cadaver kidney transplant have forced the medical community to look for alternatives, such as living kidney donation. However, available data examining health-related quality of life (QOL) issues of living donors are currently limited. In addition, little information regarding factors associated with health-related QOL in living kidney donors is currently available and this issue remains controversial. This review article aims to summarize the data regarding health-related QOL of living kidney donors by using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form.     

Lack of health insurance in living kidney donors

Living donors are recommended to receive lifelong routine health maintenance after donation. There has been little examination of health insurance status among living donors, despite the fact that lack of health insurance is likely to impede donors' ability to obtain long-term healthcare post-donation. We performed a retrospective chart review for all living kidney donors at our institution between 2004 and 2008 to determine insurance status, demographic, socioeconomic, and basic health characteristics. Twenty-three percent of donors were uninsured at the time of donation. Odds of being uninsured were significantly lower in donors who were older than 40 yr of age or who had at least a college education, and significantly higher in donors who were non-white, non-English-speaking, or non-US citizens. Odds of being uninsured did not differ according to whether donors were obese, hypertensive, or smokers. On multivariate analysis, only non-white race, non-US citizenship, and education level less than a college degree were associated with lack of insurance. Lack of health insurance is more prevalent in living kidney donors than in the general US population. Its disproportionate impact on minorities, non-citizens, and the less well educated is greater than that in the general population.     

Differences in psychosocial profiles between men and women living kidney donors

BACKGROUND: The expansion of kidney transplantation by living donation has led to a disproportional increase in the women to men ratio among donors and this difference cannot be explained on the basis of medical exclusion. The present study was designed to test whether women donors are more likely to (i) display altruistic and gender-typed nurturing behaviour and (ii) be subtly influenced by family pressure to donate and less able to resist this pressure. METHODS: All 71 (61% women) individuals who had donated a kidney at our centre between 1995 and 2005 were sent a survey. Thirty-nine individuals (71% response rate; 64% female participation) filled out and returned the survey, which included standardized measures of altruism, self-esteem, family dynamics and endorsement of gender-stereotyped roles, as well as sociodemographic questions and questions about donation. RESULTS: Findings show no difference between women and men in terms of the psychological attributes measured. One woman and two men reported having felt pressure to donate, and 92% of women compared with 54% of men reported having felt free to change their mind. Men took longer than women to make the decision to donate. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that among individuals who have already donated, there is no evidence that women may be more inclined to donate than man because of differences in their psychosocial profiles or because they may be more vulnerable to family pressure. Future research may gain from focusing on men and women donors and non-donors in families where transplantation is being considered.     

Nonresident living kidney donors

INTRODUCTION: The increasing number of immigrant residents has resulted in more foreign patients on the kidney transplant waiting list. While the willingness of their relatives to participate in a living kidney donation program is not different from that of relatives of autochthonous patients, many extra logistic and financial problems have to be solved, when the potential donor has to travel to Rotterdam. The fear of the authorities that the donor might stay in the Netherlands after donation is another hurdle. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 395 living kidney transplantations performed in Rotterdam from 1981 to 2003. In 32 instances the donor came from abroad. Another 14 potential foreign donors came to Rotterdam but did not donate for various reasons. We calculated the costs for visa, travel, insurance, and loss of income. Total financial impact for the 46 (potential) donors, amounted to capital JE, Ukrainian 56,604.09, which is capital JE, Ukrainian 1768.88 per actual performed donation. One kidney donor remained illegally in the Netherlands. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the efforts and support for foreign kidney donors to come to the Netherlands is justified and cost-effective. No evidence was found for a kidney donation immigration route.     

Evaluation of the state of health of living related kidney transplantation donors

Abstract Renal transplantation is the optimal mode of therapy for patients with enD-stage renal disease; the results are even better with living related donors. This procedure, therefore, favours the recipients, but what are the consequences for the donor? At our Department, between 1973 and 1996, 1325 kidney transplantations were performed, 78 from living, related donors (5.89 %). We decided to follow up these patients and investigate the function of the remaining kidney and also their current general health status. Thirty donors (38.4 %) were investigated. Of these, 25 of had normal blood pressure and 5 were hypertensive, needing antihypertensive treatment. The average age was higher in the hypertensive group (60.2/53.25 years). The time interval since transplantation was longer in the hypertensive group than in the normal one. We carried out a scintigraphy of the kidney with Tc99mMAG-3. The mean value of the glomerular filtration rate calculated from the MAG clearance was 98.1 ml/min and this value is higher than half of the normal isotope clearance value, i.e. higher then the expected value for a single kidney. We conclude that no impairment of renal function is observed in the living, related kidney donors. In 16.66% a mild hypertension developed. With isotope investigation we found hypertrophy of the remaining kidney. Thus, after a correct preoperative assessment, unilateral nephrectomy has no long-term consequences in healthy donors.     

Evaluation of quality of life after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation from living donors using short form 36

We performed the first case of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation from a living donor (LDSPK) in 2004. We examined the quality of life (QOL) of performed 6 recipients and 5 donors among 8 LDSPK from 2004 to 2007 at our institution using Short Form 36. All recipients achieved insulin and hemodialysis independence after LDSPK with positive serum C-peptide levels. Before LDSPK, all scores of the 8 specific domains of the recipients were low (28.2 ± 10.6), indicating extremely poor QOL. Both the Physical and the Mental Component Summary Scores (PCS/MCS) quickly increased after LDSPK. PCS at 6, 12, and 24 months after LDSPK were significantly higher than the pretransplantation level. MCS were also significantly higher than the pretransplantation level. LDSPK showed prominent QOL improvement for the recipient. Complications were not observed in any donor. Although PCS decreased at 6 months after the operation, it recovered at 12 and at 24 months after the operation. MCS was maintained at more than 50 from 6 to 24 months after the operation. QOL was well preserved in the LDSPK donors despite the major surgery. In conclusion, LDSPK was confirmed to be a potent tool for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) by complete normalization of glucose metabolism and renal function. In addition to these medical advantages, both their physical and mental QOL were improved by LDSPK.     

Consideration of psychosocial factors in the evaluation of living donors

Results of donor outcome studies indicate that most living donors report a positive psychosocial response to donation. However, negative psychosocial outcomes have also been reported. Evaluation guidelines have been proposed, although a standardized evaluation specific to living donors is not yet available. In an effort to determine what psychosocial factors should be considered in a comprehensive evaluation of living donors, an extensive literature review was undertaken that was focused on previously proposed guidelines for the psychosocial evaluation of living donors, research on outcomes among living donors, and other relevant psychosocial data.     

Correlation between SF-36 and six-minute walk distance in liver donors

Objective

We employed the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) to assess the quality of life (QoL) of donors after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods

This longitudinal prospective study had data collection via an interview and test or a mailed survey. Fifty-one liver LDLT donors underwent testing before and after donation using the SF-36 questionnaire and 6MWD.

Results

The physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-36 declined (P < .0001) and the mental component summary (MCS) increased significantly (P = .04) at 1 month after donation. The 6MWD declined significantly at 2 weeks after donation (P < .0001). After standardization, there was a high correlation between PCS and 6MWD (r² = 0.766).

Conclusions

Liver donation had a moderate impact on donor physical status, but enhanced mental status. Similar decreasing trends were observed in 6MWD and PCS. After donation, real physical performance predicted PCS but not MCS.     

219例活体肾移植供者长期随访分析

目的 探讨活体肾移植供者术后生存质量及恢复情况.方法 对2004年以来219例肾脏捐献超过1年的亲属活体肾移植供者进行随访,评估供者的肾功能、并发症发生情况及生活质量.结果 供者捐肾时年龄为(43.3±11.6)岁(19～66岁),随访时间为术后12～103个月,随访截止时供者存活率为100％.术后稳定期(1年后)供者血清肌酐(Scr)为(84.0±18.7)μmol/L,内生肌酐清除率(Ccr)为(1.23±0.37)ml/s.＞50岁者术后1周及1年后Ccr低于年龄≤50岁者(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).3例供者术后Scr未降至正常范围,其肾脏捐献时年龄＞55岁.术后并发症包括高血压30例(其中5例为术后新发),镜下血尿4例,高脂血症3例,轻度贫血2例,股骨头坏死1例.总体感觉肾脏捐献对健康有影响者共40例,认为肾脏捐献对健康有轻度影响者31例,有较明显影响者7例,有严重影响者2例;偶尔觉伤口疼痛31例,经常感觉伤口疼痛4例.结论 供者肾脏捐献后中长期安全性和生存质量良好,但仍存在肾功能异常风险,尤其是高龄供者,需密切随访.供者随访依从性需进一步提高.