Abstract
BackgroundPeople living with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience compromised quality of life. Consequently, it is critical to identify and understand factors influencing their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study examined factors associated with HRQoL among patients with diabetes and CKD.MethodsA cross sectional study among adults with comorbid diabetes and CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2) recruited from renal and diabetes clinics of four large tertiary referral hospitals in Australia was performed. Each participant completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQoL ™ -36) questionnaire, which is comprised of two composite measures of physical and mental health and 3 kidney disease specific subscales with possible scores ranging from 0 to 100 with higher values indicating better HRQoL. Demographic and clinical data were also collected. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between HRQoL and potential predictor factors.ResultsA total of 308 patients were studied with a mean age of 66.9 (SD = 11.0) years and 70% were males. Mean scores for the physical composite summary, mental composite summary, symptom/problem list, effects of kidney disease and burden of kidney disease scales were 35.2, 47.0, 73.8, 72.5 and 59.8 respectively. Younger age was associated with lower scores in all subscales except for the physical composite summary. Female gender, obese or normal weight rather than overweight, and smoking were all associated with lower scores in one or more subscales. Scores were progressively lower with more advanced stage of CKD (p<0.05) in all subscales except for the mental composite summary.ConclusionIn patients with diabetes and CKD, younger age was associated with lower scores in all HRQoL subscales except the physical composite summary and female gender, obese or normal weight and more advanced stages of CKD were associated with lower scores in one or more subscales. Identifying these factors will inform the timely implementation of interventions to improve the quality of life of these patients.
Highlights
People are living longer, but with an increased burden of chronic disease [1]
In patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), younger age was associated with lower scores in all health-related quality of life (HRQoL) subscales except the physical composite summary and female gender, obese or normal weight and more advanced stages of CKD were associated with lower scores in one or more subscales
As people with these two chronic diseases are known to have competing physical and psychological needs when compared to people with the single condition, there is a need to understand how their complex needs translate into impact on HRQoL and its specific subscales as well as the impact of increasing disease severity. Within this context there is a need for studies across the continuum from early stages of diabetes and CKD through to late stages [8] that seek to identify factors associated with HRQoL those that can be modified [15]. To do this we examined factors associated with HRQoL in patients with co-morbid diabetes and CKD of varying severity who access specialist medical care from tertiary hospitals
Summary
But with an increased burden of chronic disease [1]. This is partly due to advances in medical treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) [2]. Patients with diabetes and CKD have significantly impaired HRQoL [6,7,8,9] which may worsen as the disease progresses [5]. People living with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience compromised quality of life. It is critical to identify and understand factors influencing their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study examined factors associated with HRQoL among patients with diabetes and CKD
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
