P Sacco1, S Sultan2, M Tuten1, J M Powell2, M Connelly1, R N Barth2, M Hodorowicz1, J C LaMattina3. 1. University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD. 2. Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. 3. Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: jlamattina@som.umaryland.edu.
Abstract
Despite the frequency of liver transplantation in alcoholic recipients, the burden of co-occurring psychosocial comorbidities remains poorly defined. METHODS: A survey study was conducted to examine demographic, substance use, mental health, and social support variables among liver transplant (LT) recipients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (LT-ALD: n = 67). Survey completers (n = 67) were compared to a sample of liver transplant recipients without ALD (LT: n = 134). RESULTS: Survey participants (n = 67) were predominately male, in their mid-fifties, and were retired or on disability. Alcohol consumption during the 6 months prior to transplant was reported by more than a third of participants. Alcohol consumption post-transplant was reported by 21.2% of respondents, with 4.5% of participants reporting "at-risk" levels of post-transplant alcohol use. Illicit drug use prior to transplant was reported by nearly half of participants (47.8%), and 16.4% reported illicit drug use post-transplant. Approximately half of the sample reported a history of cigarette smoking, and one-third of respondents (29.2%) reported current cigarette smoking. Participants frequently endorsed mental health symptoms consistent with moderate to severe depression (22.4%) and anxiety (17.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite relatively low rates of problematic alcohol use post-transplant, there is a significant burden of disability, substance use, and psychiatric symptomatology in this population.
Despite the frequency of liver transplantation in alcoholic recipients, the burden of co-occurring psychosocial comorbidities remains poorly defined. METHODS: A survey study was conducted to examine demographic, substance use, mental health, and social support variables among liver transplant (LT) recipients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (LT-ALD: n = 67). Survey completers (n = 67) were compared to a sample of liver transplant recipients without ALD (LT: n = 134). RESULTS: Survey participants (n = 67) were predominately male, in their mid-fifties, and were retired or on disability. Alcohol consumption during the 6 months prior to transplant was reported by more than a third of participants. Alcohol consumption post-transplant was reported by 21.2% of respondents, with 4.5% of participants reporting "at-risk" levels of post-transplant alcohol use. Illicit drug use prior to transplant was reported by nearly half of participants (47.8%), and 16.4% reported illicit drug use post-transplant. Approximately half of the sample reported a history of cigarette smoking, and one-third of respondents (29.2%) reported current cigarette smoking. Participants frequently endorsed mental health symptoms consistent with moderate to severe depression (22.4%) and anxiety (17.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite relatively low rates of problematic alcohol use post-transplant, there is a significant burden of disability, substance use, and psychiatric symptomatology in this population.