Quality of life after heart transplantation in patients assigned to double- or triple-drug therapy.

The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of life after heart transplantation for patients treated with cyclosporine and azathioprine (double therapy) versus cyclosporine, azathioprine, and corticosteroids (triple therapy). This study was based on a randomized, prospective trial and was focused on patients from ages 17 to 57 years at 1-year after transplantation. Patients who received double therapy showed advantages on 10 of 11 measures of quality of life. Significant differences were found on measures of anxiety, sexual activity, physical well-being, and financial well-being. Patients who received double-drug therapy reported a lower frequency and less distress from the side effects of immunosuppression; a higher proportion of double-drug therapy patients had returned to full-time employment. In addition double-therapy patients were better able to control body mass. These features may explain why double-drug therapy patients reported a higher quality of life, and in the long term, could be important from a cost benefit analysis.