Evaluating Resilience as a Predictor of Outcomes in Lung Transplant Candidates

Purpose Resilience can be defined as a patient's capacity to adapt to or recover from adverse experiences. We hypothesize that resilience may be an important factor associated with lung transplant outcomes. Our objective was to describe resilience in lung transplant candidates and examine resilience as a potential predictor of lung transplant outcomes. Methods Adult lung transplant candidates on the waiting list between 9/16/2015 to 10/1/2019 at six transplant centers were mailed prospective questionnaires which included the validated Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (RISC-10). Non-responders were declared non-participators after three recruitment attempts by mail. Demographics and transplant-related outcomes were recorded. Results Survey metrics were excellent with 56.9% participation (N = 199) and Conclusion In lung transplant candidates, resilience was comparable to population norms. However, one in six lung transplant candidates had low resilience. Addressing stress may be a potential target for improving resilience in future studies.