Evaluation of quality of life among patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis using the kidney disease quality of life-short form questionnaire

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease requiring maintenance hemodialysis is associated with substantial physical, psychological and social burden, leading to impaired quality of life. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the QoL among patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis and evaluate its association with clinical, biochemical, oxidative stress, inflammatory and novel biomarkers. This hospital-based analytical case-control study included 450 participants. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, oxidative stress, inflammatory and molecular biomarkers were evaluated. Quality of life was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL SFTM 36). Hemodialysis patients showed significantly altered laboratory parameters, increased oxidative stress and elevated inflammatory and novel biomarkers compared with controls (all p<0.001). The overall KDQOL score was 60.5 ± 18.4, with the lowest scores observed in the physical component and burden of kidney disease domains. Quality of life is impaired in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and is independently influenced by age, nutritional status, inflammation, oxidative stress and dialysis related factors. Thus, early identification and targeted management of these modifiable factors may improve patient-centered outcomes.