Abstract
Background
Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important indicator of medical treatment and is a strong predictor of disability and mortality. The literature has shown mixed evidence about whether kidney transplantation improves HRQOL compared with other renal replacement modalities. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQOL in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and hemodialysis (HD) patients.
Methods
A cross-sectional study of 100 KTRs and 272 HD patients from two central kidney units in West Bank, Palestine. The HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate differences in mean HRQOL scores between KTRs and HD patients.
Results
After accounting for sociodemographic variables, KTRs had higher clinically important differences than HD patients in HRQOL mean scores in role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health, physical and mental component summaries ranging from 15.5 points for social functioning (95% CI 10.1, 20.7) to 34.3 points for general health (95% CI 28.7, 39.9). However, unexpectedly, KTRs had significantly lower HRQOL physical functioning than HD patients by 24.5 points (95% CI 18.7, 29.9).
Conclusions
Kidney transplantation is associated with important improvements in most aspects of HRQOL but also with noticeably poor physical functioning. HRQOL among KTRs should be routinely measured and closely monitored in clinical settings. KTRs should be encouraged to participate in individually tailored physical exercise programs. Identification and elimination of barriers to physical functioning may improve HRQOL and prevent premature mortality among KTRs.
HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG HAEMODIALYSIS AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS FROM NEPAL: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY USING WHOQOL-BREF
