Level of hope for life in kidney transplant recipients: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, as it generally leads to better health outcomes. However, no studies have been conducted to determine whether these improvements affect life expectancy. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the life expectancy among kidney transplant recipients. Method: This observational, cross-sectional study involved kidney transplant patients with a functioning graft who were receiving regular follow-up at the Nephrology outpatient clinic. We collected sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data from the participants. The Herth Hope Scale was used to measure levels of hope, with established cutoff points for ‘high hope’ and ‘low hope.’ Results: Data were gathered from 123 kidney transplant recipients. Over half of the participants (54.5%) were men (n=67). The majority (61%) were aged between 40 and 60 years (n=75), and 43.9% were retired (n=54). Most participants (78%, n=96) reported an income of up to one minimum wage, and 75.6% identified with some form of belief (n=93). The prevalence of high life expectancy among the participants was 78.9%, which was significantly associated with the presence of belief (p<0.001). Participants with low hope were found to be inactive (p<0.001) and had a history of smoking (p=0.041). Conclusion: Life expectancy is high among kidney transplant recipients and is associated with a sense of belief. In contrast, those with low hope tended to be inactive and were more likely to be smokers.