A Liver Transplant Candidate with Above Average Conscientiousness is More Likely to Receive a Liver Transplant
1Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 2UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C-164
Keywords: Liver transplantation
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Liver: Recipient Selection
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020
Session Time: 3:15pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:30pm-4:00pm
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Liver transplant (LT) candidates are currently assessed in terms of their physical, social and mental capacity to take care of themselves and their grafts. However, personality traits – known to influence health behaviors, quality of life, and other outcomes in many clinical settings – have never been ascertained in patients with end-stage liver disease. We aimed to delineate personality traits in LT candidates and hypothesized that personality can predict likelihood of transplant and quality of life in LT candidates.
*Methods: A prospective 2-center study was performed. Personality traits (agency, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness) were assessed in adult LT candidates at time of evaluation using the modified MIDI assessment [1 (lowest) to 4 (highest)] and results were compared to the general population (MIDUS cohort). The PROMIS-10 Global scale was used to assess quality of life (QOL).
*Results: Out of 263 included patients, 38% were female, 72% were White, 6% Black, 12% Hispanic, 4% Asian. Etiology of cirrhosis included NASH (25%), ETOH (25%), HCV (24%), Biliary (13%), and Other (13%). The mean MELD at time of evaluation was 15.7 (6-35) and 36% of patients had HCC. Compared to the general population, transplant candidates had lower agency (2.2 vs 2.6), higher agreeableness (3.5 vs 3.4), lower conscientiousness (3.3 vs 3.4), higher extraversion (3.2 vs 3.1), higher neuroticism (2.2 vs 2.1), and higher openness (3.1 vs 2.9)(All: p<0.01) (Figure 1). 61 patients (23%) received a LT to date. Patients with conscientiousness above the mean were significantly more likely to receive a LT [HR 2.33 (1.23, 4.42), p<0.01] (Figure 2). Neuroticism was negatively correlated with Mental QOL. Mean levels of Personality traits were similar across all disease etiologies.
*Conclusions: LT candidates have significantly lower conscientiousness and agency, but higher agency, agreeableness, extraversion and openness than the general population. LT candidates with higher conscientiousness are significantly more likely to receive a LT. Further studies are needed to assess the correlation of personality traits with frailty and post LT outcomes.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Siddiqui O, Lai J, Peipert D, Kaundinya T, Daud A, Hall A, Ganger D, Wong R, Loftus C, Mroczek D, Ladner D. A Liver Transplant Candidate with Above Average Conscientiousness is More Likely to Receive a Liver Transplant [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/a-liver-transplant-candidate-with-above-average-conscientiousness-is-more-likely-to-receive-a-liver-transplant/. Accessed May 16, 2025.« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress