Self-rated health after kidney transplantation and change in graft function

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between self-rated health (SRH) in patients after kidney transplantation (KT) as well as graft function over time. METHODS The sample consisted of 42 patients who were examined in the 3rd month (T1) and the 12th month after KT (T2). Sociodemographic data and data on glomerular function (GF) (Cockroft-Gault) were collected. Patients completed the SF-36 questionnaire measuring SRH. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of SRH at T2. Age, gender, change in GF, and SRH at T1 were set as the independent variables. RESULTS SRH and GF improved slightly over time. The first model, consisting of age, gender, SRH at T1, and GF at T2, explained 49.9% of the variance in SRH at T2; GF at T2 did not significantly contribute to the model. The second model, consisting of age (β = -0.26, 95% CI 1.087;-0.035, p ≤ 0.05), change in GF between T2 and T1 (β = 0.31, 95% CI 9.267;63.643, p ≤ 0.01), and SRH at T1 (β= 0.5, 95% CI 0.247;0,68, p ≤ 0.001), explained 54.6% of the variance in SRH at T2. CONCLUSIONS Although SRH after transplantation is not associated with absolute levels of GF, there is a signifi-cant association with the change in GF over time. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.