Abstract
Background: Patients awainting lung transplantation (LTx) have poor long-term survival rates and quality of life (QOL). The QOL decreases due to long waiting times, dyspnea and functional incapacity caused by deterioration lung function.
Aims: a) To study the QOL of patients awaiting LTX. b) To identify the association between QOL and functional variables in different lung disease diagnoses.
Methods: 170 patients were included. The health-related quality of life questionnaries, SF-36 and SGRQ, were applied. Exercise tolerance (6min walk test), lung function (FEV1,FVC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) were also measured in the first year of the inclusion on the waiting list. One way-ANOVA and Pearson' correlation tests were applied to statistically significancy p<0.05.
Results: The patients were divided into the following groups: Bronchiectasis (BQ=48); Emphysema (E=37), Cystic Fibrosis (CF=47) and Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF=38). The CF was younger (24y.) and had lower BMI (18kg/m2). In all groups, the worst scores were in the domains Functional Capacity (25, 15,35 and 15 respectively) and Physical Aspects (0, 25, 25 and 0 respectively) on the SF-36. the highest scores were in the Emotional Aspects and Mental Health domains. On the SGRQ the worts scores for all gropus were in the Activities (84,92,72 and 87 respctively). QOL showed moderate, but significant correlation to the distance walked in the BQ (r=0,42 p=0,002) and FC (r=0,4 p=0,003) groups and to the lung function in the PF and E groups (FVC and FEV1, respectively).
Conclusion: This study indicates that patients awaiting LTx suffer severe functional impairment mainly related to their mobility.
- © 2012 ERS