Health related quality of life of patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background Health related quality of life is increasingly being recognized as a primary outcome measure in treatmentof end stage renal disease. The health related quality of life of patients on maintenance hemodialysis is reduced. Several interventions directed at modi fiable risk factors have been shown to improve quality of life of patients on hemodialysis. General objectives To assess the health-related quality of life of patients on maintenance hemodialysis at the KenyattaNational Hospital and its determinants. Subjects 96 patients with end stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis Setting Renal unit, Kenyatta National Hospital Design Cross sectional descriptive study Methods Socio-demographic and clinical factors were recorded for all patients. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 questionnaire. Two summary scores and three subscale scores were calculated. The relationship between the health-related quality of life scores and the socio-dernographic and clinical factors was assessed. Results The mean physical composite summary and mental composite summary scores were 39.09±9.49 and 4J.87±10.56 respectively. The burden of kidney disease subscale, symptom and problems subscale and effect of kidney disease on dai ly life subscale scores were J 6. J 5±2 J .83, 73.46±J8.061 and 67.63±23.45 respectively. No significant correlations were found between the health-related quality of life scores and the socio-demographic and clinical factors assessed. Conclusion This study shows that the health-related quality of life of patients on maintenance hemodialysis is reduced. The physical qual ity of Iife is more affected than the mental qual ity of life. No independent determinants of health-related quality of life were identified.