Quality of life after kidney transplantation. A 10-22 years follow-up

Out of 69 patients who were kidney transplanted from 1963 to 1978, 33 patients were alive with a functioning graft in 1988. Of these, 94% completed a questionnaire for the assessment of the quality of life. The total life situation was considered very good by 16%, good by 48%, medium by 29% and difficult by 6%. Nine patients (eight males) had a total of 16 children after the transplantation. There were 72% who were working full-time and the family income was acceptable for most of the patients. No patients had major psychological problems. Our conclusion is that this group of transplanted patients almost all reported a good quality of life and were almost fully rehabilitated in the second and third decade after their transplantation.