Fatima Kamran, Rafia Rafique, Afifa Anjum, Zainab Raza.
Demographic Correlates Of Perceived Health Status After Renal Transplantation.
Khyber Med Uni Med J Jan ;8(3):112-5.

OBJECTIVES: to identify the demographic factors that can make recipients vulnerable to develop poorer perceptions of health despite a healthy graft functioning and to evaluate recipients? perceived health status (PHS) influences their coping and adjustment with the altered life styles and challenges after transplant. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, PHS was measured by a self-developed questionnaire that reflected the symptoms? severity and frequency measured by the common immunosuppressant side effects. Actual physical health status was measured by the clinical data that comprised of kidney function tests (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid) and general health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol and haemoglobin levels. RESULTS: There was significant correlation among sociodemographic factors and perceptions of health status after a successful renal transplant over time. Age had a significant negative association with PHS, indicating that older recipients tend to have poorer perceptions of health as compared to younger recipients. Single RTRs tend to have more a better PHS than those in a relationship. Time since transplantation showed a significant positive correlation with PHS reflecting that with the passage of time, perceptions of health tend to improve in most RTRs. In Sociodemographic factors, significant differences were found only in age and marital status. Older and single recipients tend to report better PHS. However, PHS did not differ significantly across gender, educational level, financial and work status. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors do affect PHS to some extent and thus need to be considered as a part of transplant candidacy and psychological management accordingly.

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