The effects of gender and age on health-related quality of life following kidney transplantation

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To evaluate whether gender, age and their interaction affect health-related quality of life and overall health status following kidney transplantation.

Background: Some investigators have examined the main effects of gender and/or age on health-related quality of life following kidney transplantation, but the potential interaction effect of these measures on this outcome has not been reported.

Design: This was a cross-sectional, single-centre study, based in one US geographic area.

Methods: Self-report survey data were provided by adult kidney transplant recipients using the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and a visual analogue scale of overall health. SF-36 physical and mental component summary and individual scales and overall health were measured prospectively at one time point post-transplant. All adult patients were eligible to participate and rolling enrolment was employed. Statistical effects were tested using analysis of covariance (controlling for time post-transplant).

Results: Subjects (n = 138) included 66 women and 72 men. There were no effects of gender, age group, or their interaction on MCS or overall health scores (all p >or= 0.12). Physical component summary scale data demonstrated: (i) a significant effect of gender (p = 0.025); (ii) a statistically marginal effect of age group (p = 0.068); and (iii) a statistically marginal gender by age group interaction effect (p = 0.066). Women reported poorer scores on the SF-36 physical functioning (p = 0.049), role physical (p = 0.014) and bodily pain scales (p = 0.028). There was an effect of age group on physical functioning (p = 0.005), with younger patients reporting higher scores.

Conclusions: Women report lower scores on several physical measures and may experience a greater reduction with age in physical health-related quality of life than men. Physical functioning declines with age following kidney transplantation.

Relevance to clinical practice: Findings may help healthcare professionals to develop gender- and age-specific interventions to optimize health-related quality of life of kidney transplant patients.