Health-related quality of life after liver transplantation

Background: Mongolian citizens in need of liver transplant treatment have been receiving the treatment abroad since 2004, and in Mongolia since 2011. As the number of years of life after liver transplantation increases, it is important to better understand the factors that influence patient’s quality of life during those years, and what can be done to modify them. ⁽¹⁾ Quality of life reflects how the interaction between socio-economic and environmental factors influences social and human development. ⁽²⁾ Studies on work capacity have shown that 6% of people after liver transplantation are classified as unable to work based on functional and international disability assessments, ⁽³⁾ while 23-61% are fully employed after liver transplantation. ⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾ There is a lack of research examining the physical, psychological, and social well-being of patients after liver transplant treatment in Mongolia. 

Methods: Data were collected from 144 liver transplant cases using descriptive research design and questionnaire method. The study used the SF-36 Health Assessment Questionnaire, which was grouped into 8 groups and the scores were averaged according to the scale. The results of the study were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software using Pearson’s Chi-square test for differences between groups.

Results: Of the total 144 cases included in the study, 81 (56.3%), were male and 63 (43.8%) were female. By age group, 120 (83.3%) are between the ages of 19-60, or working age, and 24 (16.7%) are over 60. Employment after liver transplantation was 41 (28.5%) full-time, 19 (13.2%) part-time, 84 (58.3%) unemployed or there was no statistically significant difference between groups (P=0.024), of which 62 (43%) were willing to work, 17 (12%) were unwilling to work, and 65 (45%) were unknown (0.173) with no statistically significant difference. When assessing health-related quality of life, physical activity was 65.7±27.1, health-related limitations 38.5±40.1, psychological limitations 41.9±43.0, pain 65.5±27.2, psychological average 71.7±19.2, physical energy average 57.8±21.2, moderate, social participation average 68.1±20.6, and health change 85±22.2, indicating that citizens who underwent liver transplant treatment had good health-related quality of life and health change indicators.

Conclusion: People who have undergone liver transplant treatment have good health-related quality of life and health-related changes.