Quality of Life and Medication Adherence in Solid Organ Transplantation
Summary
Solid organ transplantation has transformed the prognosis for patients with end-stage organ failure, yet long-term success hinges on sustained adherence to immunosuppressive regimens and the preservation of patient quality of life. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) encompasses physical functioning, psychological wellbeing and social integration, all of which may be influenced by the burden of lifelong medication, treatment side effects and the risk of graft rejection. Non-adherence to immunosuppressants remains a leading contributor to graft loss, with factors such as complex dosing schedules, medication cost, health literacy and psychosocial stressors all playing a part. Conversely, improved patient education, behavioural support and digital health interventions have shown promise in reducing non-adherence and enhancing HRQOL by fostering self-efficacy and early detection of barriers. A holistic approach that integrates routine psychosocial screening, technology-enabled reminders and tailored education is therefore critical to optimise both graft survival and overall wellbeing across diverse transplant populations worldwide.
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Quality of Life and Medication Adherence in Solid Organ Transplantation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in quality of life and medication adherence in solid organ transplantation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Solid organ transplantation: Surgical replacement of a failing organ (kidney, liver, heart, lung) with a donor organ.
Immunosuppressive therapy: Pharmacological treatment to prevent immune-mediated rejection of the transplanted organ.
Medication adherence: The extent to which patients take medications as prescribed, in dose, timing and frequency.
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL): A multidimensional measure of physical, mental and social wellbeing in the context of health conditions and treatments.
References
- Psychological and Psychopathological Aspects of Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020).
- Life and expectations post-kidney transplant: a qualitative analysis of patient responses. BMC Nephrology (2019).
- Mobile medication manager application to improve adherence with immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplant recipients: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE (2019).
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