Objective  To evaluate the current situation of quality of life and psychological status of pediatric recipients after kidney transplantation and analyze the influencing factors.

  Methods  Ninety-six pediatric recipients undergoing kidney transplantation were enrolled in this study. Baseline data of the recipients were collected. The quality of life was assessed by Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 (PedsQL^TM3.0). The psychological status was evaluated by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The influencing factors of postoperative quality of life and psychological status of pediatric kidney transplant recipients were subject to univariate and multivariate analyses.

  Results  The total score of quality of life of pediatric kidney transplant recipients was (71±14) and (12.4±5.8) for the total difficulty score. Univariate analysis showed that gender, postoperative body mass index (BMI) and postoperative complications were the influencing factors of the total score of quality of life of pediatric kidney transplant recipients (all P < 0.05). Gender, postoperative complications and follow-up time were the influencing factors of the total difficulty score of pediatric kidney transplant recipients (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that gender, postoperative BMI, postoperative complications, dialysis type before kidney transplantation were the influencing factors of postoperative quality of life of pediatric kidney transplant recipients, whereas gender, postoperative complications and follow-up time were the influencing factors of postoperative psychological status (all P < 0.05).

  Conclusions  The quality of life and psychological status of pediatric kidney transplant recipients are good. In clinical practice, special attention should be paid to those children who are female, with low BMI after kidney transplantation, postoperative complications and short follow-up time. Preventive interventions are recommended to further improve the quality of life of the children.