Employment Status and Associations with Workability, Quality of Life and Mental Health after Kidney Transplantation in Austria

Galateja Jordakieva, Igor Grabovac, Margarete Steiner, Wolfgang Winnicki, Sabine Zitta, Sinisa Stefanac, Moritz Brooks, Gere Sunder-Plaßmann, Alexander R. Rosenkranz and Jasminka Godnic-Cvar
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Galateja Jordakieva: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Igor Grabovac: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Margarete Steiner: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Wolfgang Winnicki: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Sabine Zitta: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 27, 8036 Graz, Austria
Sinisa Stefanac: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Moritz Brooks: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Gere Sunder-Plaßmann: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Alexander R. Rosenkranz: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 27, 8036 Graz, Austria
Jasminka Godnic-Cvar: Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Kidney transplantation (KTx) in end-stage renal disease is associated with a significant increase in quality of life (QoL) and self-perceived health, optimally leading to the maintenance of employment or return to work (RTW) in working-age patients. The aim of this study was to assess individual factors including the QoL and mental health of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) associated with employment after transplantation. A cross-sectional study including working-age patients with a history of KTx after 2012 was conducted at two Austrian study centers (Vienna and Graz). Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) and Workability Index (WAI) were assessed along with detailed questionnaires on employment status. Out of n = 139 KTRs (43.2 ± 9.07 years; 57.6% male), 72 (51.8%) were employed. Employed patients were more frequently in a partnership ( p = 0.018) and had higher education levels ( p = 0.01) and QoL scores (<0.001). Unemployed KTRs reported fatigue and mental health issues more often ( p < 0.001), and had significantly higher anxiety, depression and somatization scores (BSI-18). In unadjusted logistical regression, workability score (WAS; odds ratio (OR) = 3.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.97–5.82; p < 0.001), partnership (OR = 5.47; 95% CI 1.43–20.91; p = 0.013) and no psychological counseling after KTx (OR = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.003–0.969; p = 0.048) were independently associated with employment. Self-assessed mental health, workability and QoL were significantly associated with employment status after KTx. Thus, in order to facilitate RTW after KTx in Austria, vocational rehabilitation and RTW programs addressing KTRs should focus on increasing social support and care for their mental health.

Keywords: quality of life; WHOQOL; kidney transplant; workability; WAI; return to work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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