Quality of life after lung transplantation: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The increase in life expectancy has raised the importance of quality of life after lung transplantation, although this issue has not yet been systematically investigated. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to provide an overview of quality of life in lung transplant patients. Methods Between April and July 2001, a set of 4 questionnaires were given to all adult, German-speaking lung transplant recipients ( n = 108; response rate 87% [ n = 94]): St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), a lung-specific health status instrument; the Short Form-36 (SF-36), a general quality of life measure; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and a self-reported questionnaire concerning sexual functioning, physical symptoms, adverse effects of immunosuppression and satisfaction with outcome. Results With regard to the SGRQ, all lung transplant recipients had significantly better scores, which reflected an enhanced quality of life compared with the reference value for patients with obstructive pulmonary disease (SGRQ: p Conclusions Although lung transplant patients must cope with the side effects of immunosuppression, they report a highly satisfying quality of life with regard to physical and emotional well-being and social and sexual function.