PMID- 10858909
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20000724
LR  - 20071115
IS  - 0013-7006 (Print)
IS  - 0013-7006 (Linking)
VI  - 26
IP  - 2
DP  - 2000 Mar-Apr
TI  - [Evaluating the quality of life of 42 heart transplant patients and candidates: a 
      cross-sectional study].
PG  - 7-12
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Although evaluation of heart transplant candidates and recipients is 
      usually based on objective clinical variables, self-assessment has been proved to 
      be an important component of treatment evaluation. Quality of life is a 
      multidimensional concept, a mix of objective and subjective measures, that could 
      reflect the adjustment to the illness and its treatment. Few studies have 
      reported on quality of life in heart transplantation candidates. This exploratory 
      study, conducted in Bordeaux (France), was designed to assess both objectively 
      and subjectively the quality of life in heart transplant candidates and 
      recipients and to determine the relationships between subjective and objective 
      variables. METHOD: The assessment was cross-sectional; 21 candidates evaluated at 
      an average of 10 (Sd 21.4) months into the waiting period, were matched with 21 
      recipients at 29.5 months post operative. Subjective evaluation of the quality of 
      life was self-assessed by the Tableau d'evaluation assistee de la qualite de la 
      vie (TEAQV) and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). A semi structured 
      psychiatric interview, and the NYHA (New York Heart Association) cardiac 
      insufficiency score provided objective measurements. RESULTS: The NHP and TEAQV 
      mean scores were not not significantly different between the two groups: 
      candidates (C) and recipients (R) reported similar subjective data regarding 
      positive quality of life experience. The objective data indicated significant 
      disadvantages for the candidate group: the cardiac insufficiency score was worse 
      in the candidates [(NYHA mean score: (C) = 2.7 Sd 0.56 vs (R) = 0.7 Sd 0.8, t de 
      Student p < 0.01)] and the DSM III-R axis 1 diagnoses were more frequent in the 
      candidates [(C) = 16/21 vs (R) = 9/21 Chi2 p < 0.05)]. There was a prevalence of 
      adjustment disorders in the candidates. Significant correlations were found 
      between NYHA and NHP mean scores (r = 0.6, p < 0.01) and NYHA and physical and 
      psychological dimensions of the TEAQV (r = -0.65 and r = -0.55, p < 0.01) in the 
      recipient group. In the candidate group, no correlation was found between these 
      scores. CONCLUSION: In the recipient group, objective and subjective assessment 
      showed greater concordance than in the candidate group. Despite more objective 
      physical and moderate yet frequent psychiatric complications, the candidate group 
      reported as positively as did the recipients upon the quality of their life 
      experience. This could be the result of psychological adaptation to the stressful 
      situation. These data were in accordance to several earlier reports. However, the 
      literature has remained controversial upon the evaluation of the quality of life 
      of the candidates. The results of this study, limited by some methodological bias 
      (the small number of patients assessed), need to be confirmed in a prospective 
      study.
FAU - Franques, P
AU  - Franques P
AD  - Laboratoire de Psychiatrie de l'Universite Victor-Segalen Bordeaux 2, Hopital 
      Charles-Perrens.
FAU - Martin, C
AU  - Martin C
FAU - Grabot, D
AU  - Grabot D
FAU - Billes, M A
AU  - Billes MA
FAU - Tignol, J
AU  - Tignol J
LA  - fre
PT  - English Abstract
PT  - Journal Article
TT  - Evaluation de la qualite de la vie de 42 greffes et candidats a la greffe 
      cardiaque: une etude transversale.
PL  - France
TA  - Encephale
JT  - L'Encephale
JID - 7505643
SB  - IM
MH  - Adaptation, Psychological
MH  - Adult
MH  - Aged
MH  - Cross-Sectional Studies
MH  - Female
MH  - Heart Failure/*psychology/surgery
MH  - Heart Transplantation/*psychology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Postoperative Complications/*psychology
MH  - *Quality of Life
MH  - Sick Role
MH  - Sickness Impact Profile
MH  - Waiting Lists
EDAT- 2000/06/20 00:00
MHDA- 2000/06/20 00:01
CRDT- 2000/06/20 00:00
PHST- 2000/06/20 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2000/06/20 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 2000/06/20 00:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Encephale. 2000 Mar-Apr;26(2):7-12.