Quality of Life in Caregivers of Patients Randomized to Standard- Versus Extended-Hours Hemodialysis

Quality of Life of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Under Maintenance Hemodialysis and Their Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) prolongs the life of patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), but this process can change their lifestyle, affecting their quality of life (QoL). Patients with MHD require their caregivers' assistance in daily management and repeated hospital visitation. This places a burden on caregivers affecting their QoL. Both patient and caregiver form a unit during the caregiving process. This study aims to compare and correlate the QoL of patients with CKD under MHD with their caregivers, considering their common familial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

METHODOLOGY

This is a cross-sectional, comparative study in the Hemodialysis Unit of Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Lalitpur, Nepal. Patients aged >14 years with CKD under MHD and caregivers staying with the patient at their resident place for a minimum of two months were included in the study. QoL of patients with CKD under MHD was compared with caregivers under different domains of the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores using an SF-36 (Short form-36) health survey questionnaire. Data was collected and entered in Microsoft Excel 2010/Epi info version 7.2 and analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall QoL of caregivers was better than CKD patients under MHD in terms of both PCS score (48.13 vs. 35.36) and MCS score (48.11 vs. 43.25) and was statistically significant (p-value: <0.001) in both scores. The patient's QoL was not significantly correlated with the caregiver's PCS score (p-value: 0.635). Still, there was a significant correlation between QoL and MCS scores (p-value: 0.006). Similarly, caregivers had better QoL than CKD patients under MHD under all eight domains, which was statistically significant. No significant correlation was found between the frequency and duration of MHD with PCS and MCS scores of both patient and caregiver.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the physical and mental QoL of the caregiver was better than CKD patients under MHD. Further studies need to be conducted to assess the QoL of both groups compared to the healthy population to address the issue of hemodialysis patients and their caregivers.

Further Evidence on Trace Element Imbalances in Haemodialysis Patients-Paired Analysis of Blood and Serum Samples

Previous studies have shown that haemodialysis patients have an increased risk of trace element imbalances. Most studies have determined the concentration of trace elements in serum only, but most trace elements are not uniformly distributed between plasma and blood cells, which justifies separate analysis of the different compartments. In this study, we determined both the serum and whole blood concentration of a wide panel of trace elements (Li, B, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Pb) in haemodialysis patients and compared them with those of a control group. Whole blood and serum samples were collected during routine laboratory testing of patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis. For comparison purposes, samples from individuals with normal renal function were also analysed. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the two groups for whole blood concentrations of all analysed elements except Zn (p = 0.347). For serum, the difference between groups was statistically significant for all elements (p < 0.05). This study confirms that patients on haemodialysis tend to present significant trace element imbalances. By determining the concentration of trace elements in both whole blood and serum, it was shown that chronic haemodialysis may affect intra- and extracellular blood compartments differently.

Epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes

Haemodialysis (HD) is the commonest form of kidney replacement therapy in the world, accounting for approximately 69% of all kidney replacement therapy and 89% of all dialysis. Over the last six decades since the inception of HD, dialysis technology and patient access to the therapy have advanced considerably, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes vary widely across the world and, overall, the rates of impaired quality of life, morbidity and mortality are high. Cardiovascular disease affects more than two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality. In addition, patients on HD have high symptom loads and are often under considerable financial strain. Despite the many advances in HD technology and delivery systems that have been achieved since the treatment was first developed, poor outcomes among patients receiving HD remain a major public health concern. Understanding the epidemiology of HD outcomes, why they might vary across different populations and how they might be improved is therefore crucial, although this goal is hampered by the considerable heterogeneity in the monitoring and reporting of these outcomes across settings.

This Review examines the epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes — clinical, patient-reported and surrogate outcomes — across world regions and populations, including vulnerable individuals. The authors also discuss the current status of monitoring and reporting of haemodialysis outcomes and potential strategies for improvement.

Nearly 4 million people in the world are living on kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and haemodialysis (HD) remains the commonest form of KRT, accounting for approximately 69% of all KRT and 89% of all dialysis.

Dialysis technology and patient access to KRT have advanced substantially since the 1960s, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes continue to vary widely across countries, particularly among disadvantaged populations (including Indigenous peoples, women and people at the extremes of age).

Cardiovascular disease affects over two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality; mortality among patients on HD is significantly higher than that of their counterparts in the general population, and treated kidney failure has a higher mortality than many types of cancer. Patients on HD also experience high burdens of symptoms, poor quality of life and financial difficulties.

Careful monitoring of the outcomes of patients on HD is essential to develop effective strategies for risk reduction. Outcome measures are highly variable across regions, countries, centres and segments of the population. Establishing kidney registries that collect a variety of clinical and patient-reported outcomes using harmonized definitions is therefore crucial.

Evaluation of HD outcomes should include the impact on family and friends, and personal finances, and should examine inequities in disadvantaged populations, who comprise a large proportion of the HD population.