Nr. 4 - 4. Quartal 1994

Quality of Life Following Cardiac Transplantation

A. Zuckermann, B. Bunzel

Quality of life before and after cardiac transplantation was assessed in a prospective study. 50 patients were interviewed at the time of initial evaluation, after rehabilitation and 1 year after transplantation. In the field of physical health, a significant reduction of complaints could be observed a few weeks after transplantation which lasted until 1 year. Most complaints related to side effects of pharmacologic therapy. A similar gain in wellbeing was observed in the field of psychic health. Depressive and dysphoric moods, prevailing in the waiting period, gave way to postoperative euphoric moods. 1 year after transplantation, however, a significant increase in levels of dysphoria were noted which almost reached preoperative values. After rehabilitation and at 1 year, 90%, and 82% of patients, respectively, classified their psychic condition as excellent or good. Improvement in comparison to the preoperative psychic situation was reported by 65%.

Conclusion: Despite methodological limitations inherent in assessment of quality of life parameters, subjective improvement in quality of life after cardiac transplantation seems to justify the substantial financial and organizational burden imposed on society by cardiac transplantation.

Keywords:

Heart transplantation, rehabilitation, quality of life

Kurztitel:

Zuckermann, A. (1994) TxMed 4:300

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