Developing a health-related quality-of-life measure for end-stage renal disease: The CHOICE Health Experience Questionnaire

Home Dialysis in North America: The Current State

There is widespread interest in expanding the uptake of home dialysis in North America. Although kidney transplantation should be the preferred option in eligible patients, home hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) offer cost-effective options for KRT. In this review, the motivation for promoting home dialysis is presented, and the literature supporting it is critically reviewed. Randomized comparisons of home HD and PD with in-center HD have been challenging to conduct and provide only limited information. Nonrandomized studies are heterogeneous in their design and have often yielded conflicting results. They are prone to bias, and this must be carefully considered when evaluating this literature. Home modalities seem to have equivalent clinical outcomes and quality of life when compared with in-center HD. However, the cost of providing home therapies, particularly PD, is lower than conventional, in-center HD. Measures of home dialysis utilization, the philosophy behind their measurement, and important factors to consider when interpreting them are discussed. The importance of understanding measures of home dialysis utilization in the context of rates of kidney failure, the proportion of individuals who opt for conservative care, and rates of kidney transplantation is highlighted, and a framework for proposing targets is presented, using PD as an example.

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes in Nephrology: Focus on Hemodialysis

The success of hemodialysis (HD) treatments has been evaluated using objective measures of analytical parameters, or machine-measured parameters, despite having available validated instruments that assess patient perspective. There is an emerging interest regarding the use and relevance of patient-related outcomes (PROs). Electronic PROs (ePROs) involve the use of electronic technology, provide rapid access to this information, and are becoming more widely used in clinical trials and studies to evaluate efficacy and safety. Despite the scarce literature, this review suggests that ePROs are useful in providing a more customized and multidimensional approach to patient management and in making better clinical decisions in relevant aspects such as vascular access, duration and frequency of dialysis sessions, treatment of anemia, mental health, fatigue, and quality of life. The purpose of this review is to raise interest in the systematic use of ePROs in HD and to promote the development of studies in this field, which can respond to the gaps in knowledge and contribute to the implementation of the use of ePROs through new technologies, helping to improve the quality of health care.

Peritoneal Dialysis for Potential Kidney Transplant Recipients: Pride or Prejudice?

Kidney transplantation (KT) is recognized as the gold-standard of treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that receiving a pre-emptive KT ensures the best recipient and graft survivals. However, due to an overwhelming discrepancy between the organs available and the patients on the transplant waiting list, the vast majority of transplant candidates require prolonged periods of dialysis before being transplanted. For many years, peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) have been considered competitive renal replacement therapies (RRT). This dualistic vision has recently been questioned by evidence suggesting that an individualized and flexible approach may be more appropriate. In fact, tailored and cleverly planned changes between different RRT modalities, according to the patient’s needs and characteristics, are often needed in order to achieve the best results. While home HD is still under scrutiny in this particular setting, current data seems to favor the use of PD over in-center HD in patients awaiting a KT. In this specific population, the demonstrated advantages of PD are superior quality of life, longer preservation of residual renal function, lower incidence of delayed graft function, better recipient survival, and reduced cost.

Health-Related Quality of Life in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients and Healthy Individuals

Background:

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome measure in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). HRQOL is assumed to improve with kidney transplantation and compared to hemodialysis. However, there is no evidence regarding HRQOL to support the optimal treatment choice for patients on hemodialysis who hesitate opting for transplantation. Therefore, this study aims to compare HRQOL between patients with ESRD and healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods:

This case-control study was performed of 50 patients with ESRD under hemodialysis and 100 healthy participants as controls. HRQOL was assess using the SF-36 questionnaire. Data was analysis by using linear regression to compared HRQOL between groups, and adjusted for age, gender, dialysis duration.

Results:

Most of the patients were males (62%) and aged 21 to 60 years old (82%). The patients and healthy subjects were significantly different in terms of the presence of chronic diseases (P<0.05). ESRD patients had a significantly lower level of satisfaction with health and function, family and friends, and social and psychological functions. The patients’ quality of life was not significantly affected by their demographic characteristics, including age, gender, educational level, marital status, and financial status. However, there was a significant association between chronic disease and HRQOL among ESRD (P=0.0001).

Conclusion:

ESRD has a remarkably negative effect on the patients’ quality of life and satisfaction with important domains of life. HRQOL among patients with end-stage renal disease can be affected by the associated chronic diseases.

Patient-reported outcome measures for life participation in peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) endure an ongoing regimen of daily fluid exchanges and are at risk of potentially life-threatening complications and debilitating symptoms that can limit their ability to participate in life activities. The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics, content and psychometric properties of measures for life participation used in research in PD.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to May 2020 for all studies that reported life participation in patients on PD. The characteristics, dimensions of life participation and psychometric properties of these measures were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 301 studies included, 17 (6%) were randomized studies and 284 (94%) were nonrandomized studies. Forty-two different measures were used to assess life participation. Of these, 23 (55%) were used in only one study. Fifteen (36%) measures were specifically designed to assess life participation, while 27 (64%) measures assessed broader constructs, such as quality of life, but included questions on life participation. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form were the most frequently used measures [122 (41%) and 86 (29%) studies, respectively]. Eight (19%) measures had validation data to support their use in patients on PD.

CONCLUSIONS

The many measures currently used to assess life participation in patients receiving PD vary in their characteristics, content and validation. Further work to pilot and validate potential measures is required to establish a core patient-reported outcome measure to assess life participation in patients receiving PD.

Toward Patient-Centered Innovation: A Conceptual Framework for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Transformative Kidney Replacement Devices

Individuals with dialysis-dependent kidney failure experience considerable disease- and treatment-related decline in functional status and overall well-being. Despite these experiences, there have been few substantive technological advances in KRT in decades. As such, new federal initiatives seek to accelerate innovation. Historically, integration of patient perspectives into KRT product development has been limited. However, the US Food and Drug Administration recognizes the importance of incorporating patient perspectives into the total product life cycle (i.e., from product conception to postmarket surveillance) and encourages the consideration of patient-reported outcomes in regulatory-focused clinical trials when appropriate. Recognizing the significance of identifying patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that capture contemporary patient priorities, the Kidney Health Initiative, a public-private partnership between the American Society of Nephrology and US Food and Drug Administration, convened a workgroup to (1) develop a conceptual framework for a health-related quality of life PROM; (2) identify and map existing PROMs to the conceptual framework, prioritizing them on the basis of their supporting evidence for use in the regulatory environment; and (3) describe next steps for identifying PROMs for use in regulatory clinical trials of transformative KRT devices. This paper summarizes the proposed health-related quality-of-life PROM conceptual framework, maps and prioritizes PROMs, and identifies gaps and future needs to advance the development of rigorous, meaningful PROMS for use in clinical trials of transformative KRT devices.

Quality of Life of Elderly Patients Undergoing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on the lifestyle of elderly patients.

Patients and Methods

Aspects of health-related quality of life (QL) were studied in 48 patients (16 men, 32 women) in end-stage chronic renal failure (ESRF) undergoing CAPD at the Clinic of Nephrology, Clinical Centre of Serbia. The first group comprised 20 adult patients (8 men, 12 women; age range: 35 – 59 years). The second group consisted of 28 older adult patients (8 men, 20 women; age range: 65 – 75 years). Mean length of CAPD treatment was 5.2 years in the first group and 3.67 years in the second group. Fifteen QL variables were investigated: marital status, family relationships, working ability, sleep, tiredness, appetite, wound healing, hobby, sports, friendships, sexual activity, mood, travel, self management, and happiness.

Results

The results showed that, in the examined groups, marital status and relationships with family members weren't influenced at all by dialysis. In both groups, CAPD had a negative influence on ability to bear cold and to travel, but other life functions were not significantly affected. Elderly patients had a significantly worse appetite ( p = 0.03, Fisher test) and mood ( p = 0.045, Fisher test) than did younger adults. In other examined variables, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups.

Conclusions

Lack of large, statistically significant differences between the groups suggests that CAPD has an equal influence on quality of life in younger and older adult patients.

Prevalence and Persistence of Uremic Symptoms in Incident Dialysis Patients

Background

Uremic symptoms are major contributors to the poor quality of life among patients on dialysis, but whether their prevalence or intensity has changed over time is unknown.

Methods

We examined responses to validated questionnaires in two incident dialysis cohort studies, the Choices for Health Outcomes in Caring for ESRD (CHOICE) study (N=926, 1995-1998) and the Longitudinal United States/Canada Incident Dialysis (LUCID) study (N=428, 2011-2017). We determined the prevalence and severity of uremic symptoms-anorexia, nausea/vomiting, pruritus, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and pain-in both cohorts.

Results

In CHOICE and LUCID, respectively, mean age of the participants was 58 and 60 years, 53% and 60% were male, and 28% and 32% were black. In both cohorts, 54% of the participants had diabetes. Median time from dialysis initiation to the symptoms questionnaires was 45 days for CHOICE and 77 days for LUCID. Uremic symptom prevalence in CHOICE did not change from baseline to 1-year follow-up and was similar across CHOICE and LUCID. Baseline symptom prevalence in CHOICE and LUCID was as follows: anorexia (44%, 44%, respectively), nausea/vomiting (36%, 43%), pruritus (72%, 63%), sleepiness (86%, 68%), difficulty concentrating (55%, 57%), fatigue (89%, 77%), and pain (82%, 79%). In both cohorts, >80% of patients had three or more symptoms and >50% had five or more symptoms. The correlation between individual symptoms was low (ρ<0.5 for all comparisons). In CHOICE, no clinical or laboratory parameter was strongly associated with multiple symptoms.

Conclusions

The burden of uremic symptoms among patients on dialysis is substantial and has not changed in the past 15 years. Improving quality of life will require identification of the factors that underlie the pathogenesis of uremic symptoms and better ways of removing the toxins that are responsible.

Health-related quality of life and adequacy of dialysis for the individual maintained on peritoneal dialysis

The goal of care of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient should be directed at adjusting therapy to maximize the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Incorporating the routine assessments of HRQOL into the care of PD patients is important and should serve as an essential marker of the adequacy of dialysis and help the dialysis staff design the optimal treatment regimen for each patient. HRQOL is best assessed with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). How best to incorporate these PROMs into the routine care of the PD patient is not clear in terms of the best instruments to use, frequency of measurements, patient acceptability, and how to translate these assessments into improvements in patient care. Nevertheless, incorporating routine assessments of HRQOL into the care of PD patients is essential if the dialysis team is to provide optimal care; it is an area that is receiving increasing attention and is ripe for further study and investigation.

Vascular access-specific health-related quality of life impacts among hemodialysis patients: qualitative development of the hemodialysis access-related quality of life (HARQ) instrument

BACKGROUND

End stage kidney disease and hemodialysis dependence are associated with impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which may be related to vascular access (VA). Few HRQOL measures are VA-specific and none differentiate HRQOL impact by VA type. We developed a VA-targeted HRQOL measure to distinguish the impact of fistulas, grafts and catheters.

METHODS

We created an initial item pool based on literature review and then conducted focus groups at 4 US sites with 37 adults and interviews with nine dialysis clinicians about VA's impact on HRQOL. We then drafted the Hemodialysis Access-Related Quality of Life (HARQ) measure and cognitively tested it with 17 hemodialysis patients. Focus group and cognitive interview participants were diverse in age, gender, years on dialysis, and VA.

RESULTS

We identified six domains for the HARQ: symptoms, physical functioning, emotional impacts, social and role functioning, sleep, and care-related burdens. Cognitive interviews indicated that items were easily understood and supported content validity. Attributing HRQOL impact to VA as opposed to other hemodialysis burden was challenging for some items. Some items were dropped that were considered redundant by patients, limitations while dressing was added, and reference to VA-specific impact was included for each item. The average Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level for the revised 47-item HARQ was 5.3.

CONCLUSIONS

The HARQ features VA-specific content not addressed in other HRQOL measures, making it ideal for comparisons of different VA types and new VA technologies. The psychometric properties of the HARQ will be evaluated in future research.

Social determinants of health associated with hemodialysis non-adherence and emergency department utilization: a pilot observational study

Background

Dialysis patients who miss treatments are twice as likely to visit emergency departments (EDs) compared to adherent patients; however, prospective studies assessing ED use after missed treatments are limited. This interdisciplinary pilot study aimed to identify social determinants of health (SDOH) associated with missing hemodialysis (HD) and presenting to the ED, and describe resource utilization associated with such visits.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study with a convenience sample of patients presenting to the ED after missing HD (cases); patients at local dialysis centers identified as HD-compliant by their nephrologists served as matched controls. Patients were interviewed with validated instruments capturing associated risk factors, including SDOH. ED resource utilization by cases was determined by chart review. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to detect statistically significant group differences.

Results

All cases visiting the ED had laboratory and radiographic studies; 40% needed physician-performed procedures. Mean ED length of stay (LOS) for cases was 17 h; 76% of patients were admitted with average LOS of 6 days. Comparing 25 cases and 24 controls, we found no difference in economic stability, educational attainment, health literacy, family support, or satisfaction with nephrology care. However, cases were more dependent on public transport for dialysis (p = 0.03). Despite comparable comorbidity burdens, cases were more likely to have impaired mobility, physical limitations, and higher severity of pain and depression. (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

ED visits after missed HD resulted in elevated LOS and admission rates. Frequently-cited SDOH such as health literacy did not confer significant risk for missing HD. However, pain, physical limitations, and depression were higher among cases. Community-specific collaborations between EDs and dialysis centers would be valuable in identifying risk factors specific to missed HD and ED use, to develop strategies to improve treatment adherence and reduce unnecessary ED utilization.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Adults With Kidney Disease: Current Measures, Ongoing Initiatives, and Future Opportunities for Incorporation Into Patient-Centered Kidney Care

Tools that measure patients' experiences and perceptions of disease are increasingly being recognized as important components of a multidisciplinary personalized approach to care. These patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have the ability to provide clinicians, researchers, and policymakers with valuable insights into patients' symptoms and experiences that are unable to be ascertained by laboratory markers alone. If developed rigorously, studied systematically, and used judiciously, PROMs can effectively incorporate the patient voice into clinical care, clinical trials, and health care policy. PROMs have continued to gain attention and interest within the nephrology community, but key challenges and opportunities for their seamless uptake and integration remain. In this narrative overview, we provide nephrologists with a comprehensive list of existing PROMs developed for adults with kidney disease with information on their gaps and limitations; a rationale to support the continued incorporation of PROMs into nephrology clinical trials, clinical care, and health care policy; and a summary of ongoing initiatives and future opportunities to do so.

Patient-reported outcome measures: selection of a valid questionnaire for routine symptom assessment in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease - a four-phase mixed methods study

Background

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are becoming increasingly important in healthcare. In nephrology, there is no agreement on which chronic kidney disease (CKD) symptom questionnaire to use. Therefore, the aim of this study is to select a valid symptom questionnaire for routine assessment in patients with advanced CKD.

Methods

A four-phase mixed methods approach, using qualitative and quantitative research methods, was applied. First, a systematic literature search was conducted to retrieve existing symptom questionnaires. Second, a symptom list was created including all symptoms in existing questionnaires and symptoms mentioned in interviews with patients with CKD, from which symptom clusters were identified. Next, questionnaires were selected based on predefined criteria regarding content validity. Last, two online feedback panels of patients with CKD (n = 151) and experts (n = 6) reviewed the most promising questionnaires.

Results

The literature search identified 121 questionnaires, of which 28 were potentially suitable for symptom assessment in patients with advanced CKD. 101 unique symptoms and 10 symptom clusters were distinguished. Based on predefined criteria, the Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI) and Palliative Care Outcome Scale-Renal Version (IPOS-Renal) were selected and reviewed by feedback panels. Patients needed 5.4 and 7.5 min to complete the DSI and IPOS-Renal, respectively (p < 0.001). Patients experienced the DSI as more specific, complete and straightforward compared to the IPOS-Renal.

Conclusions

The DSI was found to be valid and reliable, the most relevant, complete, and comprehensible symptom questionnaire available for routine assessment in patients with advanced CKD. Routine PROMs collection could be of great value to healthcare, both at individual patient and national level. Feedback on scores and involvement of healthcare providers may promote adaptation and implementation in healthcare.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1521-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dialysate temperature reduction for intradialytic hypotension for people with chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common complication of haemodialysis (HD), and a risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and death. Several clinical studies suggested that reduction of dialysate temperature, such as fixed reduction of dialysate temperature or isothermal dialysate using a biofeedback system, might improve the IDH rate.

OBJECTIVES

This review aimed to evaluate the benefits and harms of dialysate temperature reduction for IDH among patients with chronic kidney disease requiring HD, compared with standard dialysate temperature.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched Cochrane Kidney and Transplant's Specialised Register up to 14 May 2019 through contact with the Information Specialist using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cross-over RCTs, cluster RCTs and quasi-RCTs were included in the review.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently extracted information including participants, interventions, outcomes, methods of the study, and risks of bias. We used a random-effects model to perform quantitative synthesis of the evidence. We assessed the risks of bias for each study using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool. We assessed the certainty of evidence using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 25 studies (712 participants). Three studies were parallel RCTs and the others were cross-over RCTs. Nineteen studies compared fixed reduction of dialysate temperature (below 36°C) and standard dialysate temperature (37°C to 37.5°C). Most studies were of unclear or high risk of bias. Compared with standard dialysate, it is uncertain whether fixed reduction of dialysate temperature improves IDH rate (8 studies, 153 participants: rate ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.80; very low certainty evidence); however, it might increase the discomfort rate compared with standard dialysate (4 studies, 161 participants: rate ratio 8.31, 95% CI 1.86 to 37.12; very low certainty evidence). There were no reported dropouts due to adverse events. No study reported death, acute coronary syndrome or stroke.Three studies compared isothermal dialysate and thermoneutral dialysate. Isothermal dialysate might improve the IDH rate compared with thermoneutral dialysate (2 studies, 133 participants: rate ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.76; I² = 0%; very low certainty evidence). There were no reports of discomfort rate (1 study) or dropouts due to adverse events (2 studies). No study reported death, acute coronary syndrome or stroke.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Reduction of dialysate temperature may prevent IDH, but the conclusion is uncertain. Larger studies that measure important outcomes for HD patients are required to assess the effect of reduction of dialysate temperature. Six ongoing studies may provide much-needed high quality evidence in the future.

Improving CKD-Specific Patient-Reported Measures of Health-Related Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures that are more practical and clinically useful are needed for patients with CKD. We compared a new CKD-specific quality-of-life impact scale (CKD-QOL) with currently used measures.

METHODS

Patients (n=485) in different treatment groups (nondialysis stages 3-5, on dialysis, or post-transplant) completed the kidney-specific CKD-QOL and Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36) forms and the generic SF-12 Health Survey at baseline and 3 months. New items summarizing quality of life (QOL) impact attributed to CKD across six QOL domains yielded single impact scores from a six-item static (fixed-length) form and from computerized adaptive tests (CATs) with three to six items. Validity tests compared the CKD-QOL, KDQOL-36 (Burden, Effects, and Symptoms/Problems subscales), and generic SF-12 measures across groups in four tests of clinical status and clinician assessment of change (CKD-specific tests), and number of comorbidities. ANOVA was used to test for group mean differences, variances in each measure explained by groups, and relative validity (RV) in comparison with the referent KDQOL-36 Burden subscale.

RESULTS

KDQOL-36 and CKD-QOL measures generally discriminated better than generic SF-12v2 measures. The pattern of variances across CKD-specific tests comparing validity favored CKD-QOL two-fold over KDQOL-36. Two RV test results confirmed CKD-QOL improvements over the referent KDQOL scale. Results for static and CAT CKD-QOL forms were similar. SF-12 Physical and KDQOL-36 Symptoms scores worsened with increasing comorbid condition counts.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, compared with the KDQOL-36, the new approach to summarizing CKD-specific QOL impact performed better across multiple tests of validity. CAT surveys were more efficient than static surveys.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplant-Part 1

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex medical condition that is associated with several comorbidities and requires comprehensive medical management. Given the chronic nature of the condition, its frequent association with psychosocial distress, and its very significant symptom burden, the subjective patient experience is key toward understanding the true impact of CKD on the patients’ life. Patient-reported outcome measures are important tools that can be used to support patient-centered care and patient engagement during the complex management of patients with CKD. The routine collection and use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical practice may improve quality of care and outcomes, and may provide useful data to understand the disease from both an individual and a population perspective. Many tools used to measure PROs focus on assessing health-related quality of life, which is significantly impaired among patients with CKD. Health-related quality of life, in addition to being an important outcome itself, is associated with clinical outcomes such as health care use and mortality. In Part 1 of this review, we provide an overview of PROs and implications of their use in the context of CKD. In Part 2, we will review the selection of appropriate measures and the relevant domains of interest for patients with CKD.

The associations of hemodialysis access type and access satisfaction with health-related quality of life

OBJECTIVE

In addition to age and comorbidities, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is known to predict mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Understanding the association of vascular access type with HRQOL can help surgeons to provide patient-centered dialysis access recommendations. We sought to understand the impact of HD access type on HRQOL.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional prospective study of community-dwelling prevalent HD patients in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We assessed patient satisfaction with their access using the Vascular Access Questionnaire (VAQ) and HRQOL with the Short Form Health Survey. We compared access satisfaction and HRQOL across access types. We used logistic regression modeling to evaluate the association of access type with satisfaction and multivariate analysis of variance to evaluate the association of both of these variables on HRQOL.

RESULTS

We surveyed 77 patients. The mean age was 61.8 ± 15.9 years. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was used by 62.3%, tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) by 23.4%, and arteriovenous graft (AVG) by 14.3%. There was a significant difference in satisfaction by access type with lowest median VAQ score (indicating highest satisfaction) in patients with AVF followed by TDC and AVG (4.5 vs 6.5 vs 7.0; P = .013). Defining a VAQ score of <7 to denote satisfaction, AVF patients were more likely to be satisfied with their access, compared with TDC or AVG (77% vs 56% vs 55%; P = NS). Multivariate regression analysis yielded a model that predicted 46% of the variance of VAQ score; important predictors of dissatisfaction included <1 year on dialysis (β = 3.36; P < .001), increasing number of access-related hospital admissions in the last year (β = 1.69; P < .001), and AVG (β = 1.72; P = .04) or TDC (β = 1.67; P = .02) access. Mean physical and mental QOL scores (the composite scores of Short Form Health Survey) were not different by access type (P = .49; P = .41). In an additive multivariate analysis of variance with the two composite QOL scores as dependent variables, 25.8% of the generalized variance in HRQOL (effect size) was accounted for by access satisfaction with only an additional 3% accounted for by access type.

CONCLUSIONS

HD patients experience greatest satisfaction with fistula, and access satisfaction is significantly associated with better HRQOL. Controlling for access satisfaction, there is no significant independent association of access type on HRQOL. Future research should investigate the relationship between access satisfaction, adherence to dialysis regimens, mortality, and the consequent implications for patient-centered care.

Measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used in adult patients with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review

Background

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can provide valuable information which may assist with the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, given the large number of measures available, it is unclear which PROMs are suitable for use in research or clinical practice. To address this we comprehensively evaluated studies that assessed the measurement properties of PROMs in adults with CKD.

Methods

Four databases were searched; reference list and citation searching of included studies was also conducted. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist was used to appraise the methodological quality of the included studies and to inform a best evidence synthesis for each PROM.

Results

The search strategy retrieved 3,702 titles/abstracts. After 288 duplicates were removed, 3,414 abstracts were screened and 71 full-text articles were retrieved for further review. Of these, 24 full-text articles were excluded as they did not meet the eligibility criteria. Following reference list and citation searching, 19 articles were retrieved bringing the total number of papers included in the final analysis to 66. There was strong evidence supporting internal consistency and moderate evidence supporting construct validity for the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36) in pre-dialysis patients. In the dialysis population, the KDQOL-Short Form (KDQOL-SF) had strong evidence for internal consistency and structural validity and moderate evidence for test-retest reliability and construct validity while the KDQOL-36 had moderate evidence of internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity. The End Stage Renal Disease-Symptom Checklist Transplantation Module (ESRD-SCLTM) demonstrated strong evidence for internal consistency and moderate evidence for test-retest reliability, structural and construct validity in renal transplant recipients.

Conclusions

We suggest considering the KDQOL-36 for use in pre-dialysis patients; the KDQOL-SF or KDQOL-36 for dialysis patients and the ESRD-SCLTM for use in transplant recipients. However, further research is required to evaluate the measurement error, structural validity, responsiveness and patient acceptability of PROMs used in CKD.

Cost-effectiveness of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: A national cohort study with 14 years follow-up and matched for comorbidities and propensity score

Although treatment for the dialysis population is resource intensive, a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) by matched pairs is still lacking. After matching for clinical characteristics and propensity scores, we identified 4,285 pairs of incident HD and PD patients from a Taiwanese national cohort during 1998-2010. Survival and healthcare expenditure were calculated by data of 14-year follow-up and subsequently extrapolated to lifetime estimates under the assumption of constant excess hazard. We performed a cross-sectional EQ-5D survey on 179 matched pairs of prevalent HD and PD patients of varying dialysis vintages from 12 dialysis units. The product of survival probability and the mean utility value at each time point (dialysis vintage) were summed up throughout lifetime to obtain the quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE). The results revealed the estimated life expectancy between HD and PD were nearly equal (19.11 versus 19.08 years). The QALE's were also similar, whereas average lifetime healthcare costs were higher in HD than PD (237,795 versus 204,442 USD) and the cost-effectiveness ratios for PD and HD were 13,681 and 16,643 USD per quality-adjusted life year, respectively. In conclusion, PD is more cost-effective than HD, of which the major determinants were the costs for the dialysis modality and its associated complications.

Patient-Reported Outcome Instruments for Physical Symptoms Among Patients Receiving Maintenance Dialysis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving dialysis have poor health-related quality of life. Physical symptoms are highly prevalent among dialysis-dependent patients and play important roles in health-related quality of life. A range of symptom assessment tools have been used in dialysis-dependent patients, but there has been no previous systematic assessment of the existing symptom measures' content, validity, and reliability.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review of the literature.

SETTINGS & POPULATION

Patients with ESRD on maintenance dialysis therapy.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES

Instruments with 3 or more physical symptoms previously used in dialysis-dependent patients and evidence of validity or reliability testing.

INTERVENTION

Patient-reported physical symptom assessment instrument.

OUTCOMES

Instrument symptom-related content, validity, and reliability.

RESULTS

From 3,148 screened abstracts, 89 full-text articles were eligible for review. After article exclusion and further article identification by reference reviews, 58 articles on 23 symptom assessment instruments with documented reliability or validity testing were identified. Of the assessment instruments, 43.5% were generic and 56.5% were ESRD specific. Symptoms most frequently assessed were fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and appetite. Instruments varied widely in respondent time burden, recall period, and symptom attributes. Few instruments considered recall periods less than 2 weeks and few assessed a range of symptom attributes. Psychometric testing was completed for congruent validity (70%), known-group validity (25%), responsiveness (30%), internal consistency (78%), and test-retest reliability (65%). Content validity was assessed in dialysis populations in 57% of the 23 instruments.

LIMITATIONS

Consideration of physical symptoms only and exclusion of single symptom-focused instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of available instruments focused exclusively on physical symptoms in dialysis patients is limited. Few symptom-containing instruments have short recall periods, assess diverse symptom attributes, and have undergone comprehensive psychometric testing. Improved symptom-focused assessment tools are needed to improve symptom evaluation and symptom responsiveness to intervention among dialysis-dependent patients.

Clinical approach to quality of life in children with end-stage renal disease

Quality of life in addition to various medical problems in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) should be objectively assessed to accomplish normal growth and development during childhood. However, unfortunately, studies of quality of life (QoL) in children with ESRD have been not popular yet and there are only fewer suitable assessment tools compared with adults. Recently, disease-specific modules to evaluate QoL in children with chronic disease such as ESRD have been developed. This review was made to introduce these QoL instruments for children and help the clinical application of them.

Association of sleep disturbances with cognitive impairment and depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

There are few data on the relationship of sleep with measures of cognitive function and symptoms of depression in dialysis patients.

METHODS

We evaluated the relationship of sleep with cognitive function and symptoms of depression in 168 hemodialysis patients, using multivariable linear and logistic regression. Sleep disturbances were assessed using the sleep subscale battery of the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for ESRD (CHOICE) Health Experience Questionnaire. The cognitive battery assessed a broad range of functioning including global ability, verbal intelligence, supraspan learning, auditory retention, visual retention, attention/mental processing speed, visual construction/fluid reasoning and motor speed. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression (CESD) Scale, with depression indicated by a CESD score >16.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age of participants was 62 (17) years, 49% were women, 30% were African American and 33% had diabetes. There was no significant relationship between sleep score and performance on any neurocognitive test (p>0.13, for all multivariable analyses). The prevalence of depression increased from 16% in the highest quartile (best) of sleep score, to 31% in the lowest quartile (worst) of sleep score. In multivariable analyses, each 1 SD increase in sleep score was associated with a 2.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.29, p<0.001) lower CESD score. Results were consistent when considering individual components of both the CESD and sleep score.

CONCLUSIONS

Disturbances in sleep are associated with symptoms of depression but not measures of cognitive function. Dialysis patients with disturbances in sleep should be screened for depression.

Association between estimated GFR, health-related quality of life, and depression among older adults with diabetes: the Diabetes and Aging Study

BACKGROUND

Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent condition among older adults with diabetes, the associations between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and severity of CKD in this population are not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess HRQoL and depressive symptoms across estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) stages.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

5,805 members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 60 years or older with diabetes, from the 2005-2006 Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE) survey.

PREDICTOR

eGFR categories were defined as ≥90 (referent category), 75-89, 60-74, 45-59, 30-44, or ≤29 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

OUTCOMES

HRQoL was measured using the modified Short Form-8 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8.

RESULTS

In unadjusted linear regression analyses, physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) HRQoL scores were significantly lower with worsening eGFR level. However, after adjustment for sociodemographics, diabetes duration, obesity, and cardiovascular comorbid conditions and taking into account interactions with proteinuria, none of the eGFR categories was significantly or substantively associated with PCS or MCS score. In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, higher risk of depressive symptoms was observed in respondents with eGFR ≤29 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (relative risk, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.10-3.71; P < 0.05) compared with the referent group. However, this eGFR-depression relationship was no longer significant after adjusting for hemoglobin level.

LIMITATIONS

Participants are part of a single health care delivery system.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest the need for greater attention to and potential interventions for depression in patients with reduced eGFR.

Comparative effectiveness studies to improve clinical outcomes in end stage renal disease: the DEcIDE patient outcomes in end stage renal disease study

BACKGROUND

Evidence is lacking to inform providers' and patients' decisions about many common treatment strategies for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).

METHODS/DESIGN

The DEcIDE Patient Outcomes in ESRD Study is funded by the United States (US) Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to study the comparative effectiveness of: 1) antihypertensive therapies, 2) early versus later initiation of dialysis, and 3) intravenous iron therapies on clinical outcomes in patients with ESRD. Ongoing studies utilize four existing, nationally representative cohorts of patients with ESRD, including (1) the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for ESRD study (1041 incident dialysis patients recruited from October 1995 to June 1999 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2009), (2) the Dialysis Clinic Inc (45,124 incident dialysis patients initiating and receiving their care from 2003-2010 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2010), (3) the United States Renal Data System (333,308 incident dialysis patients from 2006-2009 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2010), and (4) the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chronic Kidney Disease Registry (53,399 patients with chronic kidney disease with outcome ascertainment from 2005 through 2009). We ascertain patient reported outcomes (i.e., health-related quality of life), morbidity, and mortality using clinical and administrative data, and data obtained from national death indices. We use advanced statistical methods (e.g., propensity scoring and marginal structural modeling) to account for potential biases of our study designs. All data are de-identified for analyses. The conduct of studies and dissemination of findings are guided by input from Stakeholders in the ESRD community.

DISCUSSION

The DEcIDE Patient Outcomes in ESRD Study will provide needed evidence regarding the effectiveness of common treatments employed for dialysis patients. Carefully planned dissemination strategies to the ESRD community will enhance studies' impact on clinical care and patients' outcomes.

Understanding and assessing the impact of end-stage renal disease on quality of life: a systematic review of the content validity of self-administered instruments used to assess health-related quality of life in end-stage renal disease

Advances in healthcare, combined with an increasing number of adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), mean that there is a growing number of people now surviving on renal replacement therapy. The issue of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) is becoming increasingly important in this area. For this reason, the content validity of various instruments used to measure HR-QOL in an ESRD population were explored. Systematic searches of MEDLINE (1950-2009) were conducted using terms related to ESRD combined with terms associated with measuring HR-QOL. A total of 378 abstracts were identified, detailing the repeated use of six generic measures and four disease-specific measures. The generic HR-QOL measures discussed include the Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), the EuroQOL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D), and the WHO QOL assessment (WHOQOL-BREF). The most frequently used disease-specific measure discussed is the Kidney Disease QOL instrument (KDQOL) and its derivative versions (KDQOL-SF, KDQOL-36). The appropriateness of using the SF-36 in this population is challenged and recommendations include using the WHOQOL-BREF in cases when a generic instrument is required and the KDQOL-SF when a more disease-specific measurement is called for.

Assessment of health-related quality of life: the cinderella of peritoneal dialysis?

The studies of quality of life (QoL) are becoming increasingly interesting in clinical setting because their findings have implications for making decisions on resource allocation and health policies. The assessment of health-related QoL is especially directed to patients with chronic illnesses that cause progressive deterioration and limitations, and consume the bulk of financial resources for health. Among these chronic kidney disease and, more specifically the renal replacement therapy, is an important condition. Due to the diagnostic and therapeutic advances, we see a gradual increase both in the number of the dialysis population and its age, which leads to a growing interest in the study of these patients' QoL, as evidenced by more than one thousand articles published on this subject.

Association of residual urine output with mortality, quality of life, and inflammation in incident hemodialysis patients: the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease (CHOICE) Study

BACKGROUND

Residual kidney function (RKF) is associated with improved survival in peritoneal dialysis patients, but its role in hemodialysis patients is less well known. Urine output may provide an estimate of RKF. The aim of our study is to determine the association of urine output with mortality, quality of life (QOL), and inflammation in incident hemodialysis patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Nationally representative prospective cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

734 incident hemodialysis participants treated in 81 clinics; enrollment, 1995-1998; follow-up until December 2004.

PREDICTOR

Urine output, defined as producing at least 250 mL (1 cup) of urine daily, ascertained using questionnaires at baseline and year 1.

OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, analyzed using Cox regression adjusted for demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics. Secondary outcomes were QOL, inflammation (C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 levels), and erythropoietin (EPO) requirements.

RESULTS

617 of 734 (84%) participants reported urine output at baseline, and 163 of 579 (28%), at year 1. Baseline urine output was not associated with survival. Urine output at year 1, indicating preserved RKF, was independently associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93; P = 0.02) and a trend toward lower cardiovascular mortality (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.45-1.05; P = 0.09). Participants with urine output at baseline reported better QOL and had lower C-reactive protein (P = 0.02) and interleukin 6 (P = 0.03) levels. Importantly, EPO dose was 12,000 U/wk lower in those with urine output at year 1 compared with those without (P = 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

Urine volume was measured in only a subset of patients (42%), but agreed with self-report (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

RKF in hemodialysis patients is associated with better survival and QOL, lower inflammation, and significantly less EPO use. RKF should be monitored routinely in hemodialysis patients. The development of methods to assess and preserve RKF is important and may improve dialysis care.

Association of social support with outcomes in incident dialysis patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The association of social support with outcomes in ESRD, overall and by peritoneal dialysis (PD) versus hemodialysis (HD), remains understudied.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

In an incident cohort of 949 dialysis patients from 77 US clinics, we examined functional social support scores (scaled 0 to 100 and categorized by tertile) both overall and in emotional, tangible, affectionate, and social interaction subdomains. Outcomes included 1-year patient satisfaction and quality of life (QOL), dialysis modality switching, and hospitalizations and mortality (through December 2004). Associations were examined using overall and modality-stratified multivariable logistic, Poisson, and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

We found that mean social support scores in this population were higher in PD versus HD patients (overall 80.5 versus 76.1; P < 0.01). After adjustment, highest versus lowest overall support predicted greater 1-year satisfaction and QOL in all patients (odds ratio 2.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18 to 5.15] and 2.06 [95% CI 1.31 to 3.22] for recommendation of center and higher mental component summary score, respectively). In addition, patients were less likely to be hospitalized (incidence rate ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.98). Results were similar with subdomain scores. Modality switching and mortality did not differ by social support in these patients, and associations of social support with outcomes did not generally differ by dialysis modality.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support is important for both HD and PD patients in terms of greater satisfaction and QOL and fewer hospitalizations. Intervention studies to possibly improve these outcomes are warranted.

Correlates and outcomes of fatigue among incident dialysis patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Fatigue is a debilitating symptom experienced by patients undergoing dialysis, but there is only limited information on its prevalence and its association with patient outcomes. This study examines the correlates of self-reported fatigue at initiation of dialysis and after 1 yr and assesses the extent to which fatigue was associated with health-related quality of life and survival.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

A longitudinal cohort of 917 incident hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients who completed the CHOICE Health Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ) participated in the study. Fatigue was assessed using the SF-36 vitality scale. Known predictors of fatigue including sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, dialysis-related factors, biochemical variables including inflammatory markers, comorbidities, and medications were used as covariates.

RESULTS

A low vitality score was independently associated with white race, higher Index of Coexistent Disease score, higher body mass index, lack of physical exercise, antidepressant use, and higher C-reactive protein levels (CRP). A lower vitality score was strongly associated with lower SF-36 physical functioning, mental health, bodily pain scores, and decreased sleep quality (all P < 0.001) at baseline. Among surviving participants, higher serum creatinine at baseline was associated with preserved vitality at 1 yr. Patients with the highest baseline vitality scores were associated with longer survival (hazard ratio 0.75; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.96, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study demonstrate that ESRD patients experience profound levels of fatigue and elucidate its correlates. Also, the association of fatigue with survival may have significant implications for this population.

Relationship between conditions addressed by hemodialysis guidelines and non-ESRD-specific conditions affecting quality of life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Persons with ESRD identify non-disease-specific conditions as negatively affecting their quality of life. It is unknown how these non-ESRD-specific conditions correlate with each other and with ESRD-specific conditions such as anemia, renal osteodystrophy, dialysis access, and dialysis adequacy. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and inter-relatedness of selected conditions among persons receiving hemodialysis and to analyze the relationship between non-ESRD-specific and ESRD-specific conditions.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

This was an observational cohort study of persons with ESRD that included standardized assessments for pain, fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, and impaired physical performance. The study was conducted at three dialysis clinics in one urban geographic area. Of the 134 persons who met exclusion criteria, 25 declined participation, yielding a sample size of 109.

RESULTS

Pain was present in >81% of participants, fatigue and impaired physical performance in >60% participants, and cognitive impairment and depression in >25% of participants. Pain, fatigue, and depression were highly correlated, but had no correlation with use of a catheter for access, hemoglobin (Hgb), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), phosphorous, or Kt/V values outside of the range of guidelines. There was a modest correlation between cognitive function and both Hgb and iPTH.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-ESRD-specific conditions such as fatigue, pain, and depression are as prevalent as ESRD-specific conditions, and the magnitude of the correlations between the non-ESRD-specific conditions is greater than the correlations between non-ESRD-specific and ESRD-specific conditions. Current guidelines may be failing to address a substantial component of the disease burden for persons with ESRD.

The influence of age on changes in health-related quality of life over three years in a cohort undergoing hemodialysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the extent to which persons aged 70 and older undergoing hemodialysis (HD) had greater changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over 3 years than younger patients undergoing HD.

DESIGN

Longitudinal.

SETTING

The Hemodialysis Study (HEMO Study) was a randomized, clinical trial of the effects of HD dose and membrane flux on mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing chronic dialysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Secondary analysis of the HEMO Study.

MEASUREMENTS

Participants completed the Index of Well-Being (IWB) and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Long Form (KDQOL-LF), which also includes the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Questionnaire (SF-36) annually. Changes in subjects those aged 70 and older were compared with changes in subjects aged 55 to 69 and 18 to 54.

RESULTS

At baseline, 1,813 (98%) of HEMO participants completed HRQOL surveys. Their mean age was 58, 56% were female, 64% were black, and mean duration of dialysis was 3.8 years. In subjects with HRQOL data at the first three annual assessments, there were no substantial mean declines in the SF-36 Physical or Mental Component Summary scales over 3 years. In models incorporating effects of attrition, the differences in average change over 3 years between patients undergoing HD aged 70 and older and the younger cohorts were small in magnitude. There were high rates of adverse HRQOL events in all age groups and significantly higher composite event rates of death or clinically significant decline in HRQOL over 3 years was found in subjects aged 70 and older.

CONCLUSION

Although HRQOL was impaired in the population undergoing HD, HRQOL scores at baseline reflect a better-preserved multidimensional quality of life in respondents in the HEMO Study aged 70 and older than in younger patients undergoing HD. There was no substantial relationship between age and average decline in HRQOL score over 3 years in participants in the HEMO Study.

Reimbursement and economic factors influencing dialysis modality choice around the world

The worldwide incidence of kidney failure is on the rise and treatment is costly; thus, the global burden of illness is growing. Kidney failure patients require either a kidney transplant or dialysis to maintain life. This review focuses on the economics of dialysis. Alternative dialysis modalities are haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Important economic factors influencing dialysis modality selection include financing, reimbursement and resource availability. In general, where there is little or no facility or physician reimbursement or payment for PD, the share of PD is very low. Regarding resource availability, when centre HD capacity is high, there is an incentive to use that capacity rather than place patients on home dialysis. In certain countries, there is interest in revising the reimbursement structure to favour home-based therapies, including PD and home HD. Modality selection is influenced by employment status, with an association between being employed and PD as the modality choice. Cost drivers differ for PD and HD. PD is driven mainly by variable costs such as solutions and tubing, while HD is driven mainly by fixed costs of facility space and staff. Many cost comparisons of dialysis modalities have been conducted. A key factor to consider in reviewing cost comparisons is the perspective of the analysis because different costs are relevant for different perspectives. In developed countries, HD is generally more expensive than PD to the payer. Additional research is needed in the developing world before conclusive statements may be made regarding the relative costs of HD and PD.

Relation between level or change of hemoglobin and generic and disease-specific quality of life measures in hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE

We sought to examine the relation between meeting or exceeding the current minimum guideline for hemoglobin (11 g/dl) in dialysis patients and generic and disease-specific QOL scores at 1 year.

METHODS

In 438 incident hemodialysis patients from a national prospective cohort study, we used regression models to predict QOL score (all scaled 0-100) at 1 year using 6-month values of hemoglobin, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Compared to values < 11 g/dl, hemoglobin > or = 11 g/dl at 6 months was associated with higher scores for the general domains of physical functioning, role physical, mental health, social functioning, and bodily pain at 1 year; cognitive function, diet restriction, and dialysis access dialysis-specific domain scores were also higher for these patients. Each 1 g/dl greater hemoglobin was also statistically significantly associated with higher QOL scores for most domains. In longitudinal analyses, most of the domains showed that, with each 1 g/dl increase in hemoglobin concentration from baseline to 6 months, QOL score increased significantly over the first year.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodialysis patients who attain higher hemoglobin concentration at 6 months, especially > or = 11 g/dl, have better QOL at 1 year, with regard to important physical, mental, social, and cognitive domains.

Quality of life in tuberculosis: patient and provider perspectives

Tuberculosis (TB) is a persistent problem in the United States; however, little is known about its impact on functioning and quality of life (QOL) among people with TB. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of TB on patients' QOL by using focus groups to assess the domains of QOL that are affected. Participants included patients (n = 10) who received treatment for active TB and physicians (n = 4) and nurses (n = 9) caring for patients with TB at a public health clinic in Baltimore, Maryland. TB affected all predicted domains of QOL, including general health perceptions, somatic sensation, psychological health, spiritual well-being, and physical, social and role functioning. Social stigmatization, isolation, pill burden, long duration of therapy, sexual dysfunction, loss of income, and fear were additional specific problems related to TB. Surprisingly, 11% (33) of the comments described benefits of TB illness, including increased spirituality and improved life perspectives. In addition, four additional QOL domains and three elements of treatment specific to TB which substantially impact QOL were identified. While patients and clinicians both identified issues in many areas of QOL, only patients mentioned the impact on sexual function, spirituality and improved life perspectives. Despite available curative therapy, TB and its treatment still have significant short and long-term consequences on patients' QOL.