Patient-Reported Experiences after Acute Kidney Injury across Multiple Health-Related Quality-of-Life Domains

Investigations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in AKI have been limited in number, size, and domains assessed. We surveyed AKI survivors to describe the range of HRQoL AKI-related experiences and examined potential differences in AKI effects by sex and age at AKI episode.

AKI survivors among American Association of Kidney Patients completed an anonymous online survey in September 2020. We assessed: (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) effects of AKI-physical, emotional, social; and (3) perceptions about interactions with health care providers using quantitative and qualitative items.

Respondents were 124 adult AKI survivors. Eighty-four percent reported that the AKI episode was very/extremely impactful on physical/emotional health. Fifty-seven percent reported being very/extremely concerned about AKI effects on work, and 67% were concerned about AKI effects on family. Only 52% of respondents rated medical team communication as very/extremely good. Individuals aged 22-65 years at AKI episode were more likely than younger/older counterparts to rate the AKI episode as highly impactful overall (90% versus 63% younger and 75% older individuals; P=0.04), more impactful on family (78% versus 50% and 46%; P=0.008), and more impactful on work (74% versus 38% and 10%; P<0.001). Limitations of this work include convenience sampling, retrospective data collection, and unknown AKI severity.

These findings are a critical step forward in understanding the range of AKI experiences/consequences. Future research should incorporate more comprehensive HRQoL measures, and health care professionals should consider providing more information in their patient communication about AKI and follow-up.