Majernikova M, Prihodova L, Rosenberger J, Nagyova I, Roland R, Groothoff JW, van Dijk JP. Factors associated with self-rated health after kidney transplantation: a prospective study.
Am J Nephrol 2011;
33:364-9. [PMID:
21447943 DOI:
10.1159/000326336]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
This prospective study explores and compares the relationship between patients' self-rated health (SRH) after kidney transplantation (KT) at different follow-up periods and its medical and nonmedical predictors over time.
METHODS
Patients (n = 128) who completed a questionnaire (the SRH question of the SF-36 and the End-Stage Renal Disease Symptom Checklist - Transplantation Module) were enrolled. Clinical data were retrieved from medical files. The sample was stratified into early (n = 89) and late (n = 39) cohorts according to time since KT at baseline. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of SRH at follow-up.
RESULTS
In both cohorts, a change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) over time remained a predictor of SRH; in the early cohort, age was an additional predictor; in the late cohort, a change in transplantation-associated psychological distress over time and the number of late acute rejection episodes during the observation period were additional predictors.
CONCLUSIONS
Improvement in GFR over time predicted better SRH at each period after KT. Decreased transplantation-associated psychological distress and fewer late acute rejection episodes seemed to predict better SRH at a later follow-up period. Despite these observations, higher SRH was associated with better clinical outcomes.
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