Aim: This study goal was to evaluate the long-term quality of life of patients who underwent cadaveric liver
transplants (CLT) in two Brazilian hospitals.
Methods: Medical records of all patients who underwent CLT and survived over 10 years were revised. The
international validated questionnaire Short-Form 36 was employed to assess the quality of life. Patients data
were obtained from electronic medical records and study protocols.
Results: A total of 342 patients underwent CLT, of which 129 were alive and 93 fully answered the questionnaire
and were included in the study. The group consisted of 62 men (66.6%) and 31 women (33.4%), with average
age of 40.1±15.9 years. Follow-up time was 16±4.1 years. The most common indication of CLT was hepatic
cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus, 24.7%. Transplanted patients had lower scores than the general population
in mental health [62.9 (95%CI: 60.1-65.7,) vs. 74.5, p < 0.001]. In all other domains, transplanted patients had
similar (emotional aspect limitiation, pain, and general health status) or superior (physical aspect limitation,
social aspects, functional capacity, and vitality) scores than the general population. Functional capacity score
was lower in patients with long-term complications, who were aged more than 50-years, and unemployed.
Conclusions: The quality of life in patients with more than 10 years after CLT was similar or superior than
the general population, except for the mental health domain.
Key words: liver transplantation − quality of life − liver cirrhosis.