Psychological Well-Being in Patients After Preemptive Kidney Transplantation

• Unexpected discomfort after preemptive kidney transplantation results in lower life quality.

BackgroundPreemptive kidney transplantation (PKT) is associated with improved patient and graft survival as compared with transplantation in previously dialyzed patients. Complications related to dialysis are avoided in preemptively transplanted patients. Psychological functioning of those patients is still under investigation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the acceptance of illness, satisfaction of life, and anxiety in patients preemptively transplanted (PET) and transplanted after dialysis (PTD).MethodsThe present study compares 23 pairs of PET and PTD patients after kidney transplantation from the same donor. Each patient completed a set of psychological questionnaires: Acceptance of Illness Scale, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pairs were examined in the same moment, from 7 days to 5 years after transplantation. The PET and PTD groups did not differ significantly in respect to sex, underlying renal diseases, incidence of acute rejection, surgical complications, and graft function. More PTD patients had delayed graft function (P < .05).ResultsThe statistical analysis revealed a significant lower acceptance of illness as well as satisfaction with life in PET recipients (P < .05). The groups differed significantly in the trait of anxiety but not in the state of anxiety.ConclusionsAlthough the medical benefits of PKT are widely known, numerous psychological problems may occur in patients who do not have difficulties of dialysis and who after transplantation are faced with unexpected discomfort, which influences psychological well-being. Further effort should focus on providing psychological support during qualification to the transplantation and in follow-up after surgery.