Background

Both kidney and pancreas transplantation have been shown to be associated with improved quality of life (QoL). In fact, one of the most important outcomes with pancreas transplantation is the improvement of recipient QoL.

Objective

As it is unclear whether QoL remains good the pancreas allograft is lost, we measured the quality of life (QoL) in simultaneous kidney pancreas transplant (SPK) patients in order to determine whether QoL remains high despite loss of the pancreas allografts

Methods

Short Form Health Quality of life Survey 36-Item (SF-36) questionnaires were prospectively administered to 42 SPK recipients 3 months, 1 and 5 years post-transplantation between 2004-2016. Of the recipients, 9 patients developed pancreas transplant failure.Statistical analysis was done by descriptive and analytical statistics (ANOVA, independent sample T-test and regression model) using SPSS version 23

Results

There was no difference in median age, or gender in either group. There was no statistically difference in both groups regarding energy and emotions with 60% of both groups reported calm, peace and lot of energy. As well, <10% patients from both groups reported physical health and emotional problems interfering social activities (p = NS).The failed transplant cohort of patient reported significant reduction in activity compared to functioning transplant cohort (p=0.04, log Likelihood ratio 3.5). The failed transplant cohort of patient had more physical health problems (p=0.01, log Likelihood ratio 18.95). The likelihood ratio of emotional health problems in failed transplant cohort was 12.6 (p=0.002). This resulted in impaired social activities and interference with work vs control (both p=0.001).Overall, the failed transplant cohort reported poor general health vs control (p=0.004), log likelihood ratio 8.7.

Conclusion

SPK recipients with pancreas graft loss had significantly worse QoL vs those with maintained graft function. Whether QoL was impaired as a consequence of the presence of diabetes mellitus or the process that led to graft failure is yet to be determined.

CITATION INFORMATION: Alharbi B, Aquil S, Sharma H, Ali O, Luke P, Sener A. Impact of Pancreas Transplant Failure in Quality of Life in Simultaneous Kidney Pancreas Transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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