Introduction: Since the second half of the 20th century, the concepts of quality of life (QoL) and health have been inseparable. In this study, one of the longest follow-up time in adult liver transplant (LT) recipients, we aim to identify the factors that most affect the QoL of our patients 15 years after LT.
Methods: This is an observational, descriptive cross-sectional study of the results obtained in the QoL questionnaires carried out on our patients between the years 2015-2016, survivors with active follow-up at the date of the interview, who received a LT between the years 1986 and 2000. Our  objective is to evaluate and describe the most influential factors in the QoL of LT through the general Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (QOL-5D), and the specific questionnaire for patients with liver pathology or LT, Liver Disease Quiality of Live 1.0 (LDQOL 1.0).
Results: General results to be highlighted: In all three domains, worse scores are observed in items related to mental health. QOL-5D pain/discomfort (52.58%) and anxiety/depression (29.9%) are the items in which our patients report the highest percentage of problems. In SF-36 we observed significantly worse results than the national non-transplanted population of the same age in the vitality and mental health domains p<0.001. In LDQOL 1.0 in quality of social interaction and concern about the disease are two of the only three items in which the mean is below 50 (scale 0-100).
The social functioning domain of the SF-36 questionnaire shows the best overall result.
Socio-demographic variables: Both men and younger patients show better results in the different QoL questionnaires, although statistical significance is not always reached. Statistically significant differences were also observed according to employment status.
Clinical variables: Among the clinical variables, the variable most shown to affect long-term QoL is the etiology of LT, in particular we observed better results in domains of the SF-36 in patients transplanted for fulminant hepatitis, p<0.05. Additionally, the number of hospitalizations, with patients admitted more than twice in the last 5 years showing poorer results in the physical summary index and social functioning, p<0.029. Having received a kidney transplant seems to condition long-term QOL.
Conclusion: A much larger sample number is needed to reach statistical significance in other domains in which we have observed differences that we believe may be relevant.
Both certain clinical and demographic situations may condition long-term QoL. Further studies may lead us to estimate or predict future QoL.