USF-LVHN SELECT
The Complex Relationship Between Pain, Mental Health, and Quality-of-Life in Patients With Cirrhosis Undergoing Liver Transplant Evaluation.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-16-2024
Abstract
GOALS AND BACKGROUND: Patients with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplant evaluation have high rates of pain and mental health comorbidities; both may significantly impair health-related quality of life (HRQL). We investigated the association between pain, anxiety/depression, and HRQL in this population.
STUDY: In 62 patients with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplant evaluation, we performed 4 validated assessments to characterize: pain (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, BPI-SF), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and liver-specific HRQL (Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire). The presence of pain was determined using the BPI-SF screening question. Linear regression was used to identify demographic or clinical factors predictive of pain severity (PS) and interference (PI) and to evaluate the association between pain, anxiety/depression, and HRQL.
RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of patients reported pain, 26% had clinical depression, and 24% had moderate-severe anxiety. Neither liver disease severity, nor its complications were associated with pain (PS or PI), but anxiety and depression were predictors of pain on bivariate analysis. Only depression remained a significant predictor of PS (b=0.28, P
CONCLUSIONS: Pain is present in over 70% of patients with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplant evaluation. Anxiety and depression were highly correlated with pain and appeared to be key drivers in predicting poor HRQL. Evaluating and managing mental health comorbidities should be explored as a strategy to improve HRQL in patients with cirrhosis and pain.
ISSN
1539-2031
Published In/Presented At
Wong, R. J., Loeb, R., Seal, K. H., Barry, F., Stark Kent, D., Seetharaman, S., Sharma, A., Lai, J. C., & Rubin, J. B. (2024). The Complex Relationship Between Pain, Mental Health, and Quality-of-Life in Patients With Cirrhosis Undergoing Liver Transplant Evaluation. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 10.1097/MCG.0000000000002028. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000002028
Disciplines
Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
39008614
Department(s)
USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students
Document Type
Article