Self-Esteem Related to Quality of Life in Patients Over 60 Years Old Who Received an Orthotopic Liver Transplantation More Than 10 Years Ago

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2020-03, Vol.52 (2), p.562-565
• Main Authors: Jover-Aguilar, Marta, Martínez-Alarcón, Laura, Ramis, Guillermo, Gago, Felipe Alconchel, Pons, José Antonio, Ríos, Antonio, Febrero, Beatriz, García, César Carrillo, Hiciano Guillermo, Alberto Inocencio, Ramírez, Pablo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2019.12.017

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) represents an improvement in the quality of life (QoL) in the short to medium term. However, there is little information about QoL in the long-term post-transplant and its relation with psychological variables such as self-esteem. To analyze the perceived QoL in relation to the level of self-esteem in patients over 60 years of age who received an OLT more than 10 years ago. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Including patients from the Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA). Instrument: to evaluate the QoL: EuroQol-5D questionnaire; to evaluate health status: 1. social transfer index and 2. visual analog scale (VAS); to measure self-esteem level: Rosenberg scale. Sociodemographic and clinical variables. Nonparametric analysis (P < .05). Analyzed 46 patients, 70% men (n = 32) and 30% women (n = 14); mean age of 70.85 ± 6.7 years and mean years of post-OLT survival of 15.91 ± 5.3 years. Average score in QoL: 0.8 ± 0.17 in the social transfer index and 77.07 ± 16.82 in the VAS. Average level of self-esteem: 34 ± 3.55 point. When analyzing the variables, there are no differences in age or post-OLT years. There are significant differences according to sex (P = .001). However, the diagnosis influences the patient’s perception of QoL (P < .001). The post-OLT survival correlates negatively with social transfer index (P = .017) and self-esteem level (P = .045). In addition, those patients living in the city presented a higher level of self-esteem (P = .03). Sex, diagnosis, post-OLT years, social environment, and place of residence have an influence on the QoL and self-esteem of patients. •There is an increase in post-OLT survival rates, as well as an increase in the population’s life expectancy.•There is little information on quality of life in long-term post-OLT aged patients.•High levels of self-esteem are related to greater physical and mental well-being.