Patient-reported outcome measures (proms) and frailty in kidney transplant candidates

Patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) are key tools for advancing patient-centered clinical practice, with proven benefits for health outcomes. Their application has been extended to different chronic diseases, but there are few studies involving patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a population that is aging and frail. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between frailty and self-reported health-related quality of life in patients with advanced CKD who are eligible for kidney transplantation (KT).

KT candidates who were evaluated in the outpatient clinic were included in the study. The PROMIS-29® and PROMIS-Global Health® questionnaires were administered, and T-scores were calculated for each domain. Frailty was assessed using the Fried scale, categorizing participants as frail/pre-frail if FRIED > 0. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were also collected.

139 KT candidates were included in the study: 32% were women, the mean age was 63.5 years, 43.9% were on dialysis, and 64.5% were frail. 71.2% responded to the administered PROMIS. Overall, KT candidates reported their mental health as good (48 ± 7.4) and their physical health as fair (42.8 ± 7.3). T-scores for anxiety, fatigue, social functioning, sleep disturbance, pain, and depression were within the normal range compared to the general population. When comparing frail with robust patients, only the physical domain of PROMIS-Global Health® and physical function of PROMIS-29® were worse in the frail group. No differences were found in the other domains.

Frail kidney transplant candidates report worse physical function when assessed using PROMs tools. The systematic implementation of PROMs might help to implement strategies to optimize access to the waiting list, improve postKT outcomes, and enhance overall patient care.