Health-Related Quality of Life After Pediatric Lung Transplantation

Pediatric lung transplantation is a therapeutic option for children and adolescents with end-stage lung disease. While it offers a chance to extend survival and improve physical health, the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains understudied.

This observational study aimed to assess HRQOL in pediatric lung transplant recipients using the EuroQol questionnaire and additional self-designed questions about school, employment, and housing situations. We compared the results to those in children and adolescents with end-stage lung disease and investigated possible influencing determinants. Patients were included during routine clinical visits, starting at least 2 months post-transplant. Data collection was from November 2016 to January 2023.

The study included 29 pediatric lung transplant recipients aged between 4 and 17 years at the time of first transplantation. Our findings show a good HRQOL after pediatric lung transplantation with a median EuroQol-Score of 1.0, representing the best possible EuroQol-Score, and a median visual analog scale (VAS) score of 93 out of 100. Most patients were engaged in employment or education, and they typically lived with their parents. HRQOL was superior to that of pre-transplant patients with end-stage lung disease, suggesting a quality of life improvement by lung transplantation. The presence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), a lower age at transplantation, and a longer time since transplantation were associated with lower HRQOL scores.

This study underscores the generally favorable HRQOL experienced by pediatric lung transplant recipients.