Clinical factors influencing participation in society after successful kidney transplantation.

Background: Little information is available on the degree of actual social functioning after successful kidney transplantation. Moreover, information on factors that influence participation in social activities is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of clinical factors on social outcome.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on a cohort of primary kidney transplantation patients, transplanted between 1996 and 2001. Cross-sectional data on participation in obligatory activities (i.e. employment, education, household tasks), leisure activities (i.e. volunteer work, assisting others, sports, clubs/associations, recreation, socializing, going out) and change in participation were collected by in-home interviews (n=239). Multivariate regression analysis was performed.

Results: Thirty-six percent of the patients scored low on obligatory participation and only 52.4% was employed. Patients were actively involved in a wide range of leisure activities. Twenty-six percent participated in sports. Multivariate analysis (age-, sex-, and education-adjusted) of participation in obligatory activities showed negative associations with advanced age (P<0.01), comorbidity (previous cardiovascular events; P<0.01) and cadaveric transplantation (P<0.01). There was a positive association with time since transplantation (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis of diversity of participation in leisure activities and perceived change in participation after transplantation showed no statistically significant associations with clinical factors.

Conclusions: Besides age, clinical factors such as type of donation (cadaveric versus living), comorbidity (previous cardiovascular events), and time since transplantation were associated with participation in obligatory activities such as employment, education and household tasks. Diversity of leisure activities and change in participation was not affected by clinical factors.