BACKGROUND: The most important purpose of transplantation is to improve quality of life (QOL) together with increasing life expectancy. The aim of this study was to compare the QOL of both donors and kidney transplant recipients and a control group at the 3rd and 9th postoperative months by using the SF36 health survey, to investigate the changes in this 6-month period and to evaluate descriptive data and satisfaction of patients and donors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven donors and 47 kidney transplant recipients who were operated on in Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital between August 2012 and March 2015 and had been followed up for at least 9 months and 47 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS: Physical functioning (PF) was higher at the 9th postoperative month compared to the 3rd month in the recipient group (p=0.028). Donors had higher PF (p=0.007) and functioning physical role (PR; p=0.01) compared to recipients. Recipients had lower PF (p=0.016), PR (p=0.004), and functional-emotional role (ER; p=0.03) at the 3rd month and had lower PR (p=0.002) at the 9th month postoperatively comparing to the control group. Donors had lower PF (p=0.007) and PR (p=0.01) at the 3rd month and had lower PR (p=0.035) at the 9th month postoperatively comparing to the control group. Donors and recipients had similar QOL at the 9th month.

CONCLUSIONS: During follow-up, we observed an increase in QOL (in some subgroups) at 9 months postoperatively. Donors and recipients had similar QOL (except for PR) with the control group at the 9th month. QOL was better in younger and male patients and educated persons. Donors did not show any regret regarding their donation.

Keywords: Control Groups, Kidney Transplantation, Living Donors, Quality of Life