Impact of Affect on Lung Transplant Candidate Outcomes.
Kelly M Pennington, Roberto P Benzo, Terry D Schneekloth and 9 others
PMID 31838950WHAT IT FOUND
High negative affect and low positivity ratios were linked to higher odds of dying while waiting for a lung transplant.
However, these emotional measures did not predict post-transplant survival or quality of life, and affect levels remained stable over time.
Key findings
01Higher negative affect and lower positivity ratios were associated with increased odds of death while on the transplant waiting list.
02Baseline affect scores did not correlate with post-transplant quality of life or predict post-transplant survival.
03Positive affect remained stable during the waitlist period, while negative affect showed a small but statistically significant increase after transplantation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was underpowered to detect associations with post-transplant mortality due to the small number of deaths during the follow-up period. The sickest candidates, including those intubated or transplanted urgently, were likely unable to complete surveys, introducing selection bias. Researchers could not adjust for disease severity factors in the statistical models due to the limited number of outcome events. The participant population was homogeneous in terms of race and education, which may limit the applicability of findings to other groups.
Declared interests
None of the authors declared any conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improving a candidate's emotional state will reduce their risk of dying after transplantation. The study found that affect scores were associated with waitlist death but did not predict post-transplant survival or quality of life, and the authors could not adjust for disease severity.