Korean J Transplant.  2023 Nov;37(Suppl 1):S126. 10.4285/ATW2023.F-7086.

Quality of life after liver transplantation of Vietnamese patients

• Thi Van AN
• Le Van T
• Vu Van Q
• Thi Lan AN

• KMID: 2551746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2023.F-7086

Abstract

Background
In Vietnam, the number of patients receiving liver transplants is increasing. Quality of life is emerging as an important monitor target following liver transplantation. This study aims to describe some common characteristics and evaluate quality of life after liver transplantation.
Methods
A descriptive sectional study on 80 liver transplantation patients from October 2017 to July 2022 at the Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Department in 108 Military Central Hospital to evaluate quality of life after liver transplantation by 36-Item Short Form Survey. Patient characteristics and quality of life were collected through medical records and face-to-face interviews.
Results
The median age of patients was 51.7±10.3, 83.3% were male, 97.5% of patients received a liver transplant from a living donor, 25% indicated emergency transplants. The highest score for pain improvement with 90.8±16.3 points. The mean value of quality of life score of male patients tends to be higher than that of female patients. Physical functioning and role limitations due to physical health of patients due to cancer, cirrhosis and acute liver failure were 86.4±18.8, 80.3±36.9 and 58±46.7 respectively (P<0, 05). The quality of life in role limitations physical health of two groups patients under 12 months and over 12 months was 60.4±42.9 and 81.3±32.4, respectively. Role limitations due to emotional problems of patients who have received liver transplantation less than 12 months were 73.6±41.7 and lower than that of the group that over 12 months with a score of 86.9±30.3 (P<0.05 statistical significance).
Conclusions
Patients quality of life after liver transplantation at 108 Military Central Hospital improved markedly in 1 year in both physical and mental health. It proves that liver transplant surgery is a safe, effective, and initial treatment with good results for patients with end-stage liver disease.