肝移植受者生存质量现状及影响因素分析

目的调查肝移植受者生存质量现状,并探讨其影响因素。 方法选取2017年12月在中山大学附属第一医院器官移植科复查的115例肝移植受者,使用一般资料问卷和简明健康调查(SF-36)量表进行调查。采用独立样本t检验比较肝移植组与常模对照组SF-36量表各维度得分,采用单因素方差分析比较不同学历等人口社会学及临床相关资料对生存质量的影响,组间两两比较采用LSD法。计数资料采用频数和构成比表示。P<0.05为差异有统计学差异。 结果共发放问卷115份,回收有效问卷108份,有效回收率93.9%。108例肝移植受者生存质量总分平均为(592±138)分,其中PCS得分平均为(286±71)分,MCS得分平均为(306±75)分;生理机能维度得分最高[(86±14)分],生理职能维度得分最低[(55±42)分]。肝移植受者生理机能、生理职能、躯体疼痛、社会功能和情感职能5个维度得分均低于常模,差异均有统计学意义(t＝3.78、6.05、5.54、1.61和0.36,P均<0.01)。以SF-36量表中PCS和MCS作为因变量,分析肝移植受者人口社会学及临床相关资料对生存质量的影响。结果显示,性别、文化程度、月收入、术后生存时间以及术后有无再就业是肝移植受者生存质量的影响因素(P均<0.05)。 结论肝移植受者生存质量还有待提高。医护人员应多关注女性、文化程度较低、月收入较低、术后生存时间<1年、术后未再就业的肝移植受者,提高其生存质量。     

肝移植受者应对方式与生活质量相关性研究

目的探讨肝移植受者应对方式与其生活质量的相关性。方法采用便利抽样方法选取141例肝移植受者,用一般情况调查表、医学应对问卷(MCMQ)和简明健康调查表(SF-36)对肝移植受者进行调查。MCMQ得分采用Feifel调查数据作为常模进行比较,SF-36得分与四川省常模进行比较,并对肝移植受者应对方式与生活质量进行相关性分析。结果肝移植受者面对应对方式得分为(19.38±3.98)分,回避应对方式得分为(15.01±3.17)分,屈服应对方式得分为(8.01±2.67)分。回避方式得分显著高于Feifel常模(P=0.008),面对和屈服方式得分均显著低于Feifel常模(P=0.046和P=0.001)。肝移植受者生理健康生活质量(PCS)得分为(50.96±6.80)分,精神健康生活质量(MCS)得分为(50.10±9.22)分。PCS中生理功能(PF)、躯体疼痛(BP)和一般健康状况(GH)维度得分均显著低于四川省常模(均P0.05),而生理职能(RP)维度得分与四川省常模比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.581)。MCS中精力(VT)、社会功能(SF)、情感职能(RE)维度得分与四川省常模比较差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05),而精神健康(MH)维度得分显著高于四川省常模(P0.01)。肝移植受者的生活质量得分与面对和回避应对方式均无相关性,与屈服应对方式呈显著负相关(r=-0.310~-0.542,P0.05或P0.01)。结论肝移植术后精神方面各维度得分显著优于生理方面各维度得分。屈服应对方式对肝移植受者生活质量有负性影响。     

儿童活体肝移植中供者的生命质量和心理健康评估

目的 探讨儿童活体肝移植中供者的术后生命质量和心理健康水平.方法 回顾性分析2006年10月至2012年12月上海交通大学医学院附属仁济医院收治的45例儿童活体肝移植中供者的临床资料.采用SF-36生命质量调查表和SCL-90症状自评量表,评估45例供者术后生命质量和心理健康情况.术后采用门诊复查方式进行随访,随访时间截止2013年5月.采用t检验或秩和检验分析供者性别、年龄、身高、体质量、体质指数、户口类型、医疗保险类型、供者手术时间、术中出血量和随访时间等因素对供者术后生命质量和心理健康的影响.结果 45例供者均施行了肝左外叶切除术,其手术时间为(302±103)min、术中出血量为(187±40)ml,供者术中均未输血.45例供者术后无手术相关并发症和死亡发生,全部康复出院,平均住院时间为(7±2)d.45例供者术后获得随访,中位随访时间为636 d(163 ～2413 d).供者术后行SF-36生命质量调查量表评估:其健康改变、一般健康、生理功能、生理职能、情感职能、社会功能、躯体疼痛、活力和精神健康9个方面得分分别为:(61±25)分、(55±17)分、(89±14)分、(80±26)分、(87±25)分、(66±20)分、(82±18)分、(63±14)分、(63±15)分.SCL-90症状自评量表评估:其躯体化、强迫症状、人际关系敏感、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐怖、偏执和精神病性9个方面中位得分分别为:0.25分(0～1.58分)、0.20分(0～1.60分)、0.11分(0～0.89分)、0.15分(0～1.62分)、0.10分(0～ 1.00分)、0.17分(0 ～2.67分)、0分(0～1.00分)、0分(0～1.33分)和0分(0～0.80分);其中2名供者在敌对症状上得分均为2.67分,怀疑存在敌对症状,其余供者在以上9个方面得分均＜2.5分.进一步分析影响供者术后生命质量和心理健康的因素,其结果显示:随访时间＜636 d的供者其一般健康状况要优于随访时间≥636 d的供者(t =-2.448,P＜0.05);年龄＜34岁的供者比年龄≥34岁的供者具有更好的社会功能和精力(t=-2.180,-2.267,P＜0.05),且躯体化和恐怖症状更少(Z=3.106,2.537,P＜0.05).结论 儿童活体肝移植中供者术后生命质量、心理健康评估满意,供者的年龄和随访时间影响其术后生命质量和心理健康水平,这将为儿童活体肝移植供者的选择提供一定参考.     

肝硬化患者肝移植术后生存质量的变化

目的调查肝硬化患者肝移植前后生存质量的变化情况。方法研究对象为在中山大学附属第三医院移植中心行首次肝移植手术的68例肝硬化患者。分别在术前,术后0～6个月、7～12个月、12个月以上对患者进行问卷调查。问卷采用健康调查简表(medical outcome study 36-item short form health survey,SF-36)与疾病专用调查表——慢性肝病问卷(chronic liver disease questionaire,CLDQ)。结果在肝移植术前,肝硬化患者的SF-36和CLDQ各维度评分均偏低。术后各时段SF-36的生理机能、躯体疼痛、一般健康、精力和CLDQ的腹部症状、乏力、全身症状、活动评分均较术前明显升高(均为P<0.05);与术前比较,术后0～6个月SF-36的生理职能、社会功能、情感职能、精神健康和CLDQ的情感功能、焦虑评分差异无统计学意义(均为P>0.05),但术后7～12个月、术后12个月以上述维度评分比较差异均有统计学意义(均为P<0.05);术后随着时间的推移,两表各维度得分逐步升高。结论肝硬化肝移植患者术后的生存质量与术前比较有明显改善,术后早期以生理功能方面改善明显,随时间的推移,生存质量其他指标如心理状态和社会功能也得到明显的改善。     

就业状况对肾移植受者生活质量和社会支持的影响

目的探讨就业状况对肾移植受者生活质量和社会支持的影响。方法使用简明健康状况调查表(SF-36)和领悟社会支持量表(PSSS)测量65例就业和71例非就业的门诊肾移植受者的术后生活质量和社会支持程度,并对资料进行统计分析。结果就业组性别、年龄、移植术后时间和移植肾来源与非就业组比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01);就业组SF-36生理领域总分、生理功能、生理职能、躯体疼痛、精力和情感职能5个维度得分显著高于非就业组(P0.05,P0.01);就业组领悟社会支持总分及各分量表得分显著高于非就业组(均P0.01)。结论肾移植受者术后就业状况与其性别、年龄、移植术后时间和移植肾来源相关,术后就业的肾移植受者生活质量和社会支持均高于未就业的肾移植受者。     

SF-36量表用于国人脊髓型颈椎病的信度分析及其与神经功能的相关性研究

目的:评估SF-36量表用于国人脊髓型颈椎病(cervical spondylotic myelopathy,CSM)患者健康相关生活质量(quality of life,QOL)的信度,并验证术后疗效评价中,生活质量评价与神经功能评估的一致性。方法:本研究前瞻性收集了接受手术治疗的脊髓型颈椎病患者142例,男84例,女58例,年龄60.0±10.9岁。所有患者均接受手术治疗。分别于术前、术后3个月、术后1年和术后2年以上末次随访时分别使用改良日本骨科协会评分法(modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association,mJOA)评分和健康状况调查简表(SF-36量表)进行神经功能和生活质量评估,并与正常人群的常模进行对比。使用克隆巴赫系数(Cronbachα)分析SF-36量表八个维度的信度,并进一步分析在术后不同随访时间节点SF-36各维度与神经功能评价的相关性。根据患者各项评分的变化趋势,分析患者的康复峰值时间。结果:术前CSM患者SF-36量表8个维度中,除“精神健康”维度外,其余7各维度较健康成年人常模均存在显著功能缺陷。SF-36量表各维度的Cronbachα介于0.73~0.85之间(Cronbachα:生理功能=0.85、生理职能=0.83、躯体疼痛=0.80、整体健康=0.81、活力=0.81、社会功能=0.79、情感职能=0.73、精神健康=0.75)。术后3个月时,mJOA评分的改善仅与患者SF-36量表中生理功能和躯体疼痛两个维度得分有显著相关性(相关系数R:生理功能=0.32,躯体疼痛=0.20;P<0.05);术后1年时,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中生理功能、整体健康、社会功能和情感职能四个维度有显著相关性(相关系数R:生理功能=0.39,整体健康=0.24,社会功能=0.22,情感职能=0.19;P<0.05);在术后2年以上末次随访时,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中生理功能、活力和情感职能三个维度显著相关(相关系数R:生理功能=0.38,活力=0.20,情感职能=0.20;P<0.05)。SF-36量表的生理总评分和心理总评分分别在17.7个月和18.9个月达到峰值。结论:SF-36量表各维度的信度较高,是一项可靠的评估CSM患者健康相关生活质量的方法。在术后不同随访期的疗效评估中,SF-36量表各维度与神经功能改善评估的一致性不尽相同:在术后恢复早期,mJOA评分的改善与SF-36量表中的生理相关维度显著相关;随着术后恢复期延长,mJOA评分的改善则与生理、心理相关维度均显著相关。     

活体肝移植供者生活质量调查研究

目的调查活体肝移植供者的生活质量,了解影响该人群生活质量的因素。方法应用调查研究设计,采用中文版SF-36生活质量量表调查活体肝移植供者的生活质量。结果 18例供者躯体相关生活质量分为84.78±13.21,心理相关生活质量分为80.71±14.65,总分为165.49±22.63。在＂总体健康＂、＂活力＂维度上的得分中青年组高于中年组（P〈0.05）,在＂躯体疼痛＂维度上的得分男性组高于女性组（P〈0.05）。结论活体肝移植供者的生活质量与正常人群接近。供者年龄是影响术后生活质量的因素。     

肝移植受者健康相关生存质量评价

肝移植是治疗终末期肝病的主要手段[1].随着肝移植技术的日趋完善及医学模式的转变,人们对肝移植提出了更高的要求.简明健康调查量表(medical outcomes study short form 36,SF-36)是目前使用较多且普遍适用的生命质量量表之一[2].SF-36量表在20世纪90年代就已进入我国,并应用于普通人群及某些患者群.而针对我国肝移植受者健康相关生存质量(health-related quality of life,HRQOL)的研究报道较少.因此,我们从移植受者的临床特征、生存质量方面,重新审视肝移植的适应证以及医疗护理措施,为更好地开展临床肝移植提供一定的理论基础.     

基于9维儿童健康效用量表调查结果的儿童肝移植受者生命质量及其影响因素分析

目的评估儿童肝移植受者术后健康相关生命质量, 并分析相关影响因素。方法使用问卷调查的方式对2013年6月至2021年9月在首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院肝移植中心进行第一次肝移植手术并规律复查的5～17岁儿童肝移植受者的生命质量进行家长版问卷调研, 排除不愿参加调查及无法理解问卷内容的患儿及家长。调查问卷基于9维儿童健康效用量表(Child Health Utility 9D instrument, CHU9D)设计, 由患儿的1位主要照护者在线作答。使用CHU9D中国积分体系将问卷结果转化为健康效用值。先进行单因素分析, 再将单因素分析结果中P<0.1的因素和经临床专家讨论认为具有临床意义的因素纳入多因素分析, 使用多重线性回归模型, P<0.05为有统计学意义。结果共纳入140份有效问卷, 受者年龄为(7.95±2.74)岁, 调查距离移植手术时间为(4.90±2.17)年, 其中19例至少发生过1次排斥反应, 101例(72.1%)为亲体肝移植受者。CHU9D量表评估显示健康效用值为(0.85±0.14)分, 单因素分析显示儿童肝移植受者接受调查的年龄、上学情况和原发病...     

腹腔镜与小切口胆囊切除术后患者生存质量比较

目的比较腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)与小切口胆囊切除术(mini-incision cholecystectomy,MC)后患者生存质量的差异. 方法对152例胆囊切除术后患者生存质量进行调查,其中LC组78例,MC组74例,利用美国36项健康观察概况表(SF-36)对2组患者进行评估. 结果调查问卷的随访时间LC组为(24.2±3.1)周,MC组为(23.9±2.9)周.LC组和MC组术前SF-36总分平均109.3分和107.2分(t=1.571,P=0.118).LC组术后2周时,SF-36总分为107分,下降不明显(P>0.05),术后4周以后SF-36总分、主观症状、生理功能、社会活动及心理情绪等方面均显著高于术前水平(P<0.05).MC组术后2周时SF-36总分为100分,降幅明显(P<0.05),同时主观症状、生理功能、社会活动及心理情绪等方面分值均较术前明显下降(P<0.05),术后4周时SF-36总分为106分,恢复至术前水平(P>0.05),术后8周以后,SF-36总分、主观症状、生理功能、社会活动及心理情绪等方面均显著高于术前水平(P<0.05).术后8周内LC组SF-36总分显著高于MC组(P<0.05). 结论 LC组术后生存质量优于MC组.     

Health-Related Quality of Life Before and After a Solid Organ Transplantation (Kidney, Liver, and Lung) of Four Catalonia Hospitals

Introduction and Aims

It has been described that patients who receive a transplant display a better Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Our objective was to describe the HRQoL before and after a solid organ transplantation, comparing results among various transplantations.

Methods

This HRQoL study using the SF-36 was implemented before as well as at 3 and 12 months posttransplantation. Posttransplantation were compared with pretransplantation scores as well as with the general population.

Results

One hundred sixty-two renal, 159 liver, and 58 lung candidates were included before transplantation, among whom there were 126 renal, 108 liver, and 22 lung recipients. The median age of all transplant recipients was 53 years with 68% men. The various transplant types began with different HRQoL: lung showed the worst, followed by the liver, and then renal. The scores of the SF-36 before and 3 months posttransplantation showed significant improvements, except for “Pair.” At 12 versus 3 months, mental health was somewhat better for renal, and almost all dimensions showed significant improvement for liver and lung patients. All subjects showed clear improvements after transplantation.

Conclusion

All patients showed clear improvements after transplantation when mental health was compared with the general population, particularly lung transplant recipients who expressed the greatest improvement. However, they still showed deficits in physical health.     

Quality of Life and Psychologic Distress of Recipients after Adult Living-Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT)—A Study from Mainland China

This cross-sectional study investigated potential factors impacting quality of life in 125 recipients after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured by using the Chinese version of Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36), and psychologic symptoms by using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Clinical and demographic data were collected from the records of the Chinese Liver Transplant Registry and via questionnaire. A total of 102 recipients (81.6%) completed the questionnaires. All SF-36 domain scores (except the mental health score) were lower in the study than in the general population of Sichuan. The mental quality of life was significantly lower in female than in male subjects (P = .000). Regarding the role-physical (P = .016), social functioning (P = .000), and role-emotional (P = .004) domains, recipients >1 year after transplantation scored higher than those <1 year. Bodily pain scores were lower in recipients with prior acute liver failure than those with hepatic carcinoma or hepatic cirrhosis (P = .032). Social functioning was poorer in recipients with than in those without complications (P = .039). Mental component summary scale (MCS) scores and some of physical component summary scale (PCS) significantly correlated with symptom dimension scores of the SCL-90-R (P < .05). In conclusion, gender, time since transplant, etiology of disease, complications, occupation, and some psychologic symptoms were possible factors influencing postoperative HRQoL of LDLT recipients.     

Health-related quality of life after different types of solid organ transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To describe functional health and health-related quality of life (QOL) before and after transplantation; to compare and contrast outcomes among liver, heart, lung, and kidney transplant patients, and compare these outcomes with selected norms; and to explore whether physiologic performance, demographics, and other clinical variables are predictors of posttransplantation overall subjective QOL. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There is increasing demand for outcomes analysis, including health-related QOL, after medical and surgical interventions. Because of the high cost, interest in transplantation outcomes is particularly intense. With technical surgical experience and improved immunosuppression, survival after solid organ transplantation has matured to acceptable levels. More sensitive measures of outcomes are necessary to evaluate further developments in clinical transplantation, including data on objective functional outcome and subjective QOL. METHODS: The Karnofsky Performance Status was assessed objectively for patients before transplantation and up to 4 years after transplantation, and scores were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance. Subjective evaluation of QOL over time was obtained using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS). These data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. A summary model of health-related QOL was tested by path analysis. RESULTS: Tools were administered to 100 liver, 94 heart, 112 kidney, and 65 lung transplant patients. Mean age at transplantation was 48 years; 36% of recipients were female. The Karnofsky Performance Status before transplantation was 37 +/- 1 for lung, 38 +/- 2 for heart, 53 +/- 3 for liver, and 75 +/- 1 for kidney recipients. After transplantation, the scores improved to 67 +/- 1 at 3 months, 77 +/- 1 at 6 months, 82 +/- 1 at 12 months, 86 +/- 1 at 24 months, 84 +/- 2 at 36 months, and 83 +/- 3 at 48 months. When patients were stratified by initial performance score as disabled or able, both groups merged in terms of performance by 6 months after liver and heart transplantation; kidney transplant patients maintained their stratification 2 years after transplantation. The SF-36 physical and mental component scales improved after transplantation. The PAIS score improved globally. Path analysis demonstrated a direct effect on the posttransplant Karnofsky score by time after transplantation and diabetes, with trends evident for education and preoperative serum creatinine level. Although neither time after transplantation nor diabetes was directly predictive of a composite QOL score that incorporated all 15 subjective domains, recent Karnofsky score and education level were directly predictive of the QOL composite score. CONCLUSIONS: Different types of transplant patients have a different health-related QOL before transplantation. Performance improved after transplantation for all four types of transplants, but the trajectories were not the same. Subjective QOL measured by the SF-36 and the PAIS also improved after transplantation. Path analysis shows the important predictors of health-related QOL. These data provide clearly defined and widely useful QOL outcome benchmarks for different types of solid organ transplants.     

The Effects of Physical Quality of Life,Time, and Gender on Change in Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression after Liver Transplantation

Previous research demonstrated that physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improves after liver transplantation, but improvements in mental HRQOL are less dramatic. The aim of this study was to test the effects of physical HRQOL, time post-transplant, and gender on pre- to post-transplant change in anxiety and depression. Longitudinal HRQOL data were prospectively collected at specific times before and after liver transplantation using the SF-36® Health Survey (SF-36), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Within-subject change scores were computed to represent the longest follow-up interval for each patient. Multiple regression was used to test the effects of baseline score, time post-transplant, gender, and SF-36 physical component summary scores (PCS) on change in BAI and CES-D scores. About 107 patients (74% male, age?=?54?±?8 years) were included in the analysis. Time post-transplant ranged 1 to 39 months (mean?=?9?±?8). Improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression was greatest in those patients with the most severe pre-transplant symptoms. Significant improvement in symptoms of depression occurred after liver transplant, but the magnitude of improvement was smaller with time suggesting possible relapse of symptoms. Better post-transplant physical HRQOL was associated with a greater reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression after liver transplantation. This demonstrates clear improvements in post-transplant mental HRQOL and the significant relationships between physical and mental HRQOL.     

Quality of life 1 year after lung transplantation

Lung transplantation is a viable therapeutic option for patients with end-stage lung disease. The focus of interest has shifted from advances in surgical techniques to improved quality of life for the transplant recipient. A prospective longitudinal repeated measures design was used to determine the impact of lung transplantation on quality of life and life satisfaction. Using 4 measurement points (before transplantation, after 8 weeks, and after 6 and 12 months), 61 patients were followed from before to 1 year after successful lung transplantation. Quality of life was measured using 2 generic (SF-36, Quality of Life Profile for Chronic Diseases) and 1 lung-specific (Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire) questionnaires. All dimensions of the health-related scores improved significantly after transplantation, except bodily pain. Patients reported the most significant improvements until 6 months after transplantation. Lung transplantation had no influence on social functioning or role emotional. The Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire ratings showed similar significantly better scores for transplant recipients at 6 months, and stagnations for most dimensions afterward.     

Quality of life and physical activity in liver transplantation patients: results of a case-control study in Italy

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the physical activity of liver transplant recipients compared with the general population. The case-controlled pilot study was accomplished through the administration of 2 questionnaires: 36-item Medical Outcomes Study, Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) for quality of life (10 scores) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to estimate the physical activity (metabolic equivalent score). Fifty-four patients who underwent liver transplantation using the piggyback technique and 108 controls from the general population at the orthopedic ambulatories were enrolled between 2002 and 2009. Participants had a mean age of 55 years (range, 41-73). The multivariate analysis showed significant differences for some scales of the SF-36: liver transplant recipients displayed lower values for “Mental Composite Score” (P = .043), “physical activity” (P = .001), “role limitations due to physical health” (P = .006), “role limitations due to the emotional state” (P = .006), and “mental health” (P = .010). The metabolic equivalent positively associated with all examined SF-36 scales. The present study focused on the QOL and physical activity of liver transplant recipients, demonstrating that transplant recipients scored lower than the general population. Liver transplantation may allow full recovery of health status, but the physical and social problems persist in some patients. Interventions aimed at improving rehabilitation programs, regular psychosocial support, and follow-up in all phases of treatment may give patients a more satisfying lifestyle after transplantation.     

Sleep Disturbances and Quality of Life in Patients After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BackgroundFollowing improvements in patient and graft survival after liver transplantation (LT), the recipients' quality of life has become an important focus of patient care. Sleep is closely related to physical and mental health; however, sleep disturbances in LT patients have not yet been evaluated.MethodsWe assessed 59 LT patients (aged ≥18 years) between September 2011 and September 2012. The patients completed the restless legs syndrome (RLS), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires. In addition, laboratory data were obtained and neuropsychological tests (NPT) were performed during study entry.ResultsThirty-eight patients (64%) were included in the poor sleep group (PSQI ≥6 or ESS ≥10). The SF-36 scores were lower in the poor sleep group than in the good sleep group. Eleven patients (18%) had RLS. An NPT score ≥3 indicated minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE3). The MHE3 group consisted of 22 patients (43%). The time after LT was shorter; serum albumin, branched chain amino acid/tyrosine molar ratio (BTR), and role limitations due to poor physical health were lower; and serum ammonia levels were higher in the MHE3 group than in the MHE0-2 group. When the poor sleep group was divided into subgroups (control, MHE, RLS, and unknown), MHE patients had high model for end-stage liver disease scores, high ammonia levels, and low BTR, whereas RLS patients showed a short time after LT.ConclusionSixty-four percent of recipients were classified as poor sleepers. SF-36 scores were lower for poor sleepers than good sleepers. RLS and MHE are major diseases that cause sleep disturbances in patients after LT.     

The association of the SF-36 health status survey with 1-year socioeconomic outcomes in a chronically disabled spinal disorder population.

STUDY DESIGN: The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was administered to patients with chronic spinal disorders both before and after tertiary rehabilitation. The association of the SF-36 with various socioeconomic outcomes was then examined. OBJECTIVES: To assess the correlation of scores on SF-36 with treatment program completion and clinically meaningful 1-year socioeconomic outcomes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There has been much interest in identifying variables that can predict which disabled workers with chronic spinal disorders will have good versus poor socioeconomic outcomes after tertiary rehabilitation. Results of previous research have indicated that psychosocial factors are better predictors of such outcomes than physical factors. A more recent trend in research is assessing health-related quality of life from the health care recipient's perspective. METHODS: The SF-36 was administered to a cohort (n = 146) of patients chronically disabled by spinal disorders before entry into a tertiary functional restoration program. Of this cohort, preprogram SF-36 scores and 1-year socioeconomic data were available for 128 program completers and 18 program noncompleters. The pre- and postprogram SF-36 scores of program completers for each of the outcome variables were compared. RESULTS: Better scores on the preprogram SF-36 Social Functioning and Bodily Pain scales were found to be associated with successful completion of the treatment program. Postprogram SF-36 scores were more frequently associated with outcomes than were preprogram scores. Most SF-36 scores, especially the physical domain scales, were associated with the variables of return to work, work retention, and use of health care resources. The overwhelming majority of significant associations were between higher (i.e., better) SF-36 scores and "good" treatment outcomes (e.g., return-to-work). CONCLUSIONS: The large number of associations between SF-36 scores and outcome variables highlights the importance of assessing the health-related quality of life of patients, and supports the use of the SF-36 in accomplishing this task. Among the findings, perhaps the most significant was the value of assessing health-related quality of life, particularly the subjective physical components, after completion of a functional restoration program. Prediction of long-term socioeconomic outcomes is likely to be improved if assessment is conducted at the end of the treatment process. SF-36 is recommended for assessing general health status, and more spine-specific measures are recommended for assessing spinal pain and disability variables.