Cognitive Function in Liver Transplant Recipients Who Survived More Than 6 Months

Abstract

Introduction:

Current research in the areas of liver transplant and cognitive function has primarily examined cognitive changes from pre- to 1-year posttransplant, resulting in an insufficient understanding of cognitive trajectory beyond early periods of transplant and its impact on self-management. This study aimed (1) to describe global and domain-specific cognitive function in liver transplant recipients who survived more than 6 months after transplant and (2) to describe patient and clinical characteristics of recipients with impaired global and/or domain-specific cognitive function. Further, this study explored the potential relationships between cognitive function and self-management by examining differences in cognitive function by levels of self-management.

Design:

This secondary data analysis included 107 adult liver transplant recipients, who had a functioning transplant for at least 6 months. Data of cognitive function, demographic and clinical characteristics, and self-management were extracted for this study. T tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine differences in cognitive function by variables.

Results:

More than half of the recipients had global cognitive impairment. Significant differences were found in global and domain-specific cognitive function. Older, male, married, or deceased donor recipients had lower cognitive test scores than younger, female, single, or living donor recipients. There were no significant differences in global and domain-specific cognitive function by time since transplant and levels of self-management.

Discussion:

Future longitudinal studies should examine the long-term trajectory of cognitive function posttransplant. Other factors such as caregivers’ participation in self-management should be accounted for in future studies when examining the relationship between cognitive function and self-management.