Abstract
BackgroundQuality of Life (QoL) reflects the quality and outcome of healthcare along with key indicators of performance such as mortality and morbidity.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to measure the QoL among patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on maintenance hemodialysis and to understand various correlates of QoL.MethodsA total of 95 ESRD patients from three dialysis centres in Southern districts of Kerala were interviewed. QoL was measured using vernacular version of World Health Organization Quality Of Life – Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 56.2 ± 13 years and 73.7% were males. Mean converted scores for overall QoL was 42.37 ± 21.3 and Health-related QoL (HRQoL) was 43.3 ± 18.3, indicating poor QoL. Males had significantly higher physical domain scores (p < 0.03). Occupation, income and Socio-economic Status (SES) influenced overall HRQoL while better income and higher SES predicted better scores in psychological and environmental domains.ConclusionPatients with better control over inter-dialysis weight gain (≤1600 g) had significantly higher scores. This study highlights the importance of using QoL tools in assessing the QoL of patients and the factors contributing to it.
Highlights
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the result of a progressive worsening of renal function over a period of months or years [1]
About 80% of the patients were on regular hemodialysis for more than 6 months. 74.7% of patients reported that someone in the household had to accompany them for dialysis
We have found that patients with ESRD due to causes other than diabetes are having poorer Quality of Life (QoL) than their counterparts with diabetes
Summary
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the result of a progressive worsening of renal function over a period of months or years [1]. The global burden of ESRD grows at around 7% annually [2] and is a leading cause of death especially in developing countries [3] with limited resources for renal replacement therapy. Since India has a huge challenge with the rising burden of these two major risk factors, it has become an important public health problem in India [12,13]. The Indian state of Kerala is currently experiencing an epidemiological transition and has seen a huge jump in terms of per-capita out-of-pocket spending in health care in the recent years [14]. National Family Health Survey data shows that chronic diseases account to a large proportion of morbidity and highest utilization rates for both out- and in-patient, services in the state compared to other states in the country [15]. Quality of Life (QoL) reflects the quality and outcome of healthcare along with key indicators of performance such as mortality and morbidity
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