Background: The state of organ transplantation in general in China is experiencing transition; however, living-donor organ transplantation has gained more attention recently. We have found that because traditional Chinese ideas, few Chinese transplantation surgeons have the quality of life (QOL) and mental health of living transplantation donors and recipients as their focus in care giving. Physicians outside of China typically have a different view. This study investigated QOL and psychology characteristics in Chinese living-related kidney donors and recipients after transplantation.

Methods: Demographics, socioeconomics, transplantation processes, QOL scores, and psychosocial outcomes of 169 pairs of living-related kidney donors and recipients were analyzed using a self-made socio-demographic questionnaire, the short-form 36 health survey, and the Zung self-rating anxiety and depression scales.

Results: The majority of both donors (81.8%, 90/110) and recipients (83.1%, 103/124) were at secondary school or lesser education levels. Eighty-five and five tenths percent (94/110) of donors and 54.8% (68/124) of recipients were of moderate or low incomes. In addition, the donors were predominantly female (61.8%, 68/110), 6 of whom (5.5%, 6/110) stated that their transplantation had a negative impact on marriage due to kidney donation. The evaluation of the donors' QOL was not significantly different from that of the Chinese norm. The recipients' QOL was obviously improved comparing with the hemodialysis patients. There was no anxiety and depression among donors, but slightly anxious (1.6%, 2/124) and depressive (5.6%, 7/124) symptoms were found among recipients.

Conclusion: Living-related kidney transplantation did not adversely affect the lives and psychological aspects of donors and significantly improved the QOL of recipients. Screening donors strictly, perfecting the medical care system, intensifying follow-up and social supports, and providing necessary healthy and psychological counseling should be fundamental prerequisites.