Katrin Mayer1, Norman Junge1, Imke Goldschmidt1, Christoph Leiskau1, Thomas Becker2, Frank Lehner3, Nicolas Richter3, Rolf van Dick4, Ulrich Baumann5, Eva-Doreen Pfister6. 1. Division for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. 2. Clinic for General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Clinic for General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, UKSH, Kiel, Germany. 3. Clinic for General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. 4. Psychology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Work Research Institute (AFI), Oslo, Norway. 5. Division for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; University of Birmingham, Medical School, Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham, UK. 6. Division for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Paediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: doreen@mh-hannover.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The long-term psychosocial outcome of young adults after paediatric liver transplantation (LT) was investigated with the focus on day-to-day living. We aimed to capture patients' subjective perceptions of well-being and autonomy based on key physical outcome parameters. METHODS: All patients following paediatric LT at Hannover Medical School born before 2002 with a post-transplant follow-up of at least four years were included in this study. This retrospective observational study compared psychosocial parameters obtained from a self-designed 77-item questionnaire with standard clinical outcome variables. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (male: 57%) aged 13-41 years were included in the survey within a three-month period (response rate: 41%). With an adherence rate of 33%, all but two patients were immunosuppressed. In total, 53 patients had transitioned to adult care largely without problems. Eighty-three percent (n = 68) evaluated their current health status as "(very) good". Sixty-seven patients (82%) did not experience health-related anxiety in daily life. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate psychological stability and high self-esteem of young patients, as well as good integration into society and a high degree of normality during daily life after LT. Adherence rates are lower than anticipated and do not correlate with patients' understanding of their medical condition.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The long-term psychosocial outcome of young adults after paediatric liver transplantation (LT) was investigated with the focus on day-to-day living. We aimed to capture patients' subjective perceptions of well-being and autonomy based on key physical outcome parameters. METHODS: All patients following paediatric LT at Hannover Medical School born before 2002 with a post-transplant follow-up of at least four years were included in this study. This retrospective observational study compared psychosocial parameters obtained from a self-designed 77-item questionnaire with standard clinical outcome variables. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (male: 57%) aged 13-41 years were included in the survey within a three-month period (response rate: 41%). With an adherence rate of 33%, all but two patients were immunosuppressed. In total, 53 patients had transitioned to adult care largely without problems. Eighty-three percent (n = 68) evaluated their current health status as "(very) good". Sixty-seven patients (82%) did not experience health-related anxiety in daily life. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate psychological stability and high self-esteem of young patients, as well as good integration into society and a high degree of normality during daily life after LT. Adherence rates are lower than anticipated and do not correlate with patients' understanding of their medical condition.
Authors: Saeed Mohammad; Shikha S Sundaram; Kristen Mason; Steven Lobritto; Mercedes Martinez; Yumirle P Turmelle; John Bucuvalas; Sandy Feng; Estella M Alonso Journal: Liver Transpl Date: 2021-05 Impact factor: 5.799