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Quality of life tools among patients on dialysis: A systematic review
Mohammad H Aljawadi1, Asim A Babaeer2, Almothanna S Alghamdi3
1Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
This review identifies tools to assess the quality of life (QoL) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing dialysis. It highlights common physical concerns like fatigue and pain, guiding clinicians in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Public Health
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Rising rates of obesity and diabetes are increasing chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence globally.
- CKD progression often necessitates kidney dialysis, significantly impacting patients' overall quality of life (QoL).
- Dialysis introduces complications affecting physical, social, psychological, and spiritual well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify condition-specific tools for assessing QoL in CKD patients on dialysis.
- To focus on tools measuring intrinsic factors, including spiritual aspects, over extrinsic ones.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was performed for studies from February 2000 to June 2023.
- The search adhered to PRISMA guidelines across multiple databases.
- Included studies focused on QoL assessment tools for dialysis patients.
Main Results:
- Seven dialysis-specific QoL tools were identified across five studies.
- The physical domain was most frequently assessed, followed by psychological and social domains.
- Common physical concerns included fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disorders, and pain.
Conclusions:
- Dialysis profoundly affects all QoL dimensions for CKD patients.
- This review aids clinicians in selecting appropriate QoL assessment tools for adult dialysis patients.
- Further research is needed to understand the full impact of CKD treatment on patient QoL.
Introduction:
The universal increase in obesity and diabetes has increased the chronic kidney disease (CKD) rate. In 2017, almost 800 million individuals suffered from CKD worldwide. Kidney dialysis becomes necessary as the disease progresses. Dialysis negatively impacts CKD patients' quality of life (QoL). It causes several complications that affect patients' physical, social, psychological, and spiritual aspects of life. This systematic review aims to identify condition-specific tools used to assess CKD patients' quality of life on dialysis.
Material And Methods:
A systematic literature search was conducted to investigate studies using QoL tools among patients on dialysis from February 2000 to June 2023. The search was conducted in several databases and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The focus was to identify tools that capture intrinsic factors, such as spiritual subdomains, rather than extrinsic factors, such as environmental subdomains.
Results:
The review identified five studies and seven dialysis-specific tools for assessing the QoL of CKD patients on dialysis. The physical domain was the most assessed, followed by the psychological and social domains. Fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disorders, and pain were identified as the most common concerns in the physical domain.
Conclusion:
Dialysis negatively impacts all aspects of QoL in CKD patients. This review can guide clinicians in understanding the disease and treatment burden by identifying the most appropriate tools for assessing the QoL of adult CKD patients undergoing dialysis. There is a need for further studies to explore the detrimental effects of CKD treatment and better understand its impact on patients' QoL.
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