Changes in health-related quality of life in Greek adult patients 1 year after successful renal transplantation.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare and to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Greek adult transplant recipients before and 1 year after successful renal transplantation (RT) and to examine which parameters had the greatest effects on their HRQOL. The SF-36 survey score was used.

Methods: Eighty-five Greek hemodialysis patients underwent RT at the Transplant Unit of Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, including 44 men and 41 women (mean age, 43.8 years; range, 21-59 years). Thirty-nine patients had received a kidney from a living-related donor, and 46 from a cadaver. The scale scores of a Greek version of the SF-36 survey were compared between the transplant and the hemodialysis patients. We also examined the relationships of the scale scores with the patients' age and the type of donor.

Results: According to the SF-36 health survey, transplant recipients had better results for general health perception (P

Conclusions: The SF-36 health survey is a validated and comprehensive instrument for evaluating renal transplant patients' HRQOL. Our data demonstrate an improvement in HRQOL in renal transplant patients from before to 1 year after successful RT. The data also confirm that the recipients' age at transplantation and the type of donor were important factors affecting the HRQOL.