Comparison of the health-related quality of life of end stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis management in Uganda

• Published in: BMC palliative care 2021-04, Vol.20 (1), p.52-52, Article 52
• Main Authors: Bagasha, Peace, Namukwaya, Elizabeth, Leng, Mhoira, Kalyesubula, Robert, Mutebi, Edrisa, Naitala, Ronald, Katabira, Elly, Petrova, Mila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Care and treatment; Chronic [MeSH]; Chronic kidney failure; Developing countries [MeSH]; Health aspects; Hemodialysis; Hemodialysis patients; Kidney diseases; Kidney failure; Mortality; Palliative care; Palliative care [MeSH]; Patients; Peritoneal dialysis; Quality of life; Quality of life [MeSH]; Questionnaires; Renal Dialysis [MeSH]; Surveys
• ISSN: 1472-684X; 1472-684X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12904-021-00743-0

Health-related quality of life is recognized as a key outcome in chronic disease management, including kidney disease. With no national healthcare coverage for hemodialysis, Ugandan patients struggle to pay for their care, driving families and communities into poverty. Studies in developed countries show that patients on hemodialysis may prioritize quality of life over survival time, but there is a dearth of information on this in developing countries. We therefore measured the quality of life (QOL) and associated factors in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in a major tertiary care hospital in Uganda. Baseline QOL measurement in a longitudinal cohort study was undertaken using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form Ver 1.3. Patients were recruited from the adult nephrology unit if aged > 18 years with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤ 15mls/min/1,73m . Clinical, demographic and micro-financial information was collected to determine factors associated with QOL scores. Three hundred sixty-four patients (364) were recruited, of whom 124 were on hemodialysis (HD) and 240 on non-hemodialysis (non-HD) management. Overall, 94.3% of participants scored less than 50 (maximum 100). Mean QOL scores were low across all three principal domains: physical health (HD: 33.14, non-HD: 34.23), mental health (HD: 38.01, non-HD: 38.02), and kidney disease (HD: 35.16, non-HD: 34.00). No statistically significant difference was found between the overall quality of life scores of the two management groups. Breadwinner status (p