This page contains exclusive content for the member of the following sections: TTS, ITA. Log in to view.
Presenter: Loris, Pironi, Bologna, Italy
Authors: Loris Pironi1, Janet Baxter2, Augusto Lauro3, Mariacristina Guidetti1, Federica Agostini1, Rossella Petitto1, Chiara Zanfi3, Antonio Daniele Pinna3
Loris Pironi1, Janet Baxter2, Augusto Lauro3, Mariacristina Guidetti1, Federica Agostini1, Rossella Petitto1, Chiara Zanfi3, Antonio Daniele Pinna3
1Center for Chronic Intestinal Failure, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 2Scottish Home Parenteral Nutrition Network, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom; 3Liver and Multiorgan Transplant Unit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Background: A treatment-specific quality of life questionnaire for adult patients on HPN (HPN-QOL©) has been recently validated (Baxter J, JPEN 2010;34:131). In order to investigate the quality of life on HPN and after ITx using comparable instruments, the HPN-QOL© was adapted to ITx recipients, by modifying the text of some items, without changing number of either the items or the scales. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare patients on HPN or who had undergone ITx.
Methods: All the patients currently followed at the same Hospital were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were: age >= 60 years and hospitalization at time of assessment.The questionnaire was administered at time of a scheduled visit at the outpatient clinic or was mailed at patient home.The HPN-QOL© is composed of both multi-item scales and single-item measures. These include 8 functional scales, 9 symptom scales, 3 global health status / quality of life scales and 2 single items. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the statistical analysis.
Results: Thirty-three HPN-patients and 18 ITx recipients received the questionnaires. All the HPN-patients (12 M, 21 F; median age: 46 yrs) and 16 ITx recipients (10 M, 6 F, p=0.08; median age 40.5 yrs, P=0.11) participated in the study. Two ITx recipients had a central venous catheter for hydration or HPN. ITx recipients showed a better score in the following scales: ability to holiday/travel (p=0.040, physical function (p=0.038), ability to eat/drink (p=0.042), emotional function (p<0.001), gastrointestinal symptoms (p<0.001), stoma management/bowel movements (P=0.001), global health status/quality of life (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the other scales: general health, coping, employment, sexual function, body image, body weight, immobility, fatigue, sleep pattern, non-gastrointestinal pain, financial issues.
Conclusions: Specific and comparable questionnaires showed that several domains of the quality of life are improved after ITx in comparison with HPN.
By viewing the material on this site you understand and accept that:
The Transplantation Society
International Headquarters
740 Notre-Dame Ouest
Suite 1245
Montréal, QC, H3C 3X6
Canada