Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 34(03): 421-430
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348470
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Quality of Life in Lung Transplantation

Jonathan P. Singer
1   Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, California
,
Lianne G. Singer
2   Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 July 2013 (online)

Preview

Abstract

Improving health-related quality of life is an important goal of lung transplantation. This review describes background concepts, including definitions, measurement and interpretation of health-related quality of life (HRQL), and other patient-reported outcomes. Lung transplantation is associated with dramatic and sustained improvements in HRQL, particularly in measures of physical health and functioning. Physical rehabilitation may augment the early improvements in HRQL, whereas bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and psychological conditions have a negative impact. More research is needed, particularly longitudinal, multicenter studies, to better understand the trajectory and determinants of HRQL after lung transplantation, and the impact of targeted interventions to improve HRQL.