Clin Mol Hepatol.  2018 Dec;24(4):402-408. 10.3350/cmh.2018.0028.

Fatigue and weakness hinder patient social reintegration after liver transplantation

• Kang SH
• Choi Y
• Han HS
• Yoon YS
• Cho JY
• Kim S
• Kim KH
• Hyun IG
• Shehta A

• KMID: 2433305
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2018.0028

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
With improvements in the survival of liver transplantation (LT) recipients, the focus is shifting to patient quality of life (QOL), and employment is an important factor in aiding the social reintegration of LT patients. This study aims to evaluate the current employment status of liver graft recipients and various factors that may hinder reemployment.
METHODS
Fifty patients above age 18 who underwent either living or deceased donor LT at a single center from March 2009 to July 2016 were interviewed during their visit to the outpatient clinic. The internally developed questionnaire consisted of 10 items. The Karnofsky Performance Scale and EQ-5D were used to evaluate patient function and QOL.
RESULTS
A total of 25 (50%) patients returned to work after transplantation (the working group), and 21 (84%) patients in the working group returned to work within the first year after transplantation. In the non-working group (n=25), 17 (68%) answered that their health was the reason for unemployment. Fatigue and weakness were the most frequent symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
The data shows that as many as 50% of total patients returned to work after receiving LT. Fatigue and weakness were the most common complaints of the unemployed group, and resolving the causes of these symptoms may help to increase the employment rate.

Keyword

Liver transplantation; Employment; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Employment
Fatigue*
Humans
Liver Transplantation*
Liver*
Quality of Life
Tissue Donors
Transplants
Unemployment