Quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease

Aim to study the quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in 2016-2018 and included 319 patients, with CKD (of them 58.9% men, with CKD I-IV stages – 121, receiving long term hemodialysis – 109, after kidney transplantation – 89) and 103 relatively healthy individuals (control group, men – 53.4%). The main causes of CKD were glomerulonephritis, diabetes mellitus, and pyelonephritis. QOL was evaluated by the SF-36.

Results. Impairment of the quality of life in patients with CKD was demonstrated in most parameters, both in comparison with the control group and with progression of CKD. In the terminal stage of CKD the quality of life evaluated by some parameters (bodily pain, general health, physical health, social functioning) was lower in patients dependent on program hemodialysis than in patients after kidney transplantation. The parameters of mental and psychological health did not show any differences between these groups which is explained by the authors as due to lack of psychological support after surgical intervention, to necessity of using immunosuppressive therapy and to the economical constituent of treatment.

Conclusions. Evaluation of the quality of life should be an obligatory component of the analysis of the quality and effectiveness of management of patients with chronic kidney disease including those at the terminal stage. In the work, impairment of the quality of life and of its separate parameters in progression of chronic kidney disease was objectively demonstrated. At the terminal stage, the quality of life evaluated by some most important parameters was lower in patients receiving program hemodialysis that in patients after transplantation of kidney.