Associations of Socio-Demographic, Clinical and Biochemical Parameters with Healthcare Cost, Health- and Renal-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients: A Clinical Observational Study

The association between socioeconomic status and health-related quality of life among young and middle-aged maintenance hemodialysis patients: multiple mediation modeling

Objective

To explore the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), illness perception, social functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of young and middle-aged maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the internal mechanism of action.

Design

A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Methods

An aggregate of 332 young and middle-aged MHD patients were enrolled from hemodialysis centers in four general hospitals in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, from June to December 2022. The questionnaires used included one for general demographic data, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Social Dysfunction Screening Scale (SDSS), and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Results

Both SES and HRQoL were negatively correlated with illness perception and social functioning, respectively. SES was positively correlated with HRQoL. Illness perception was positively correlated with social functioning. The indirect effects of illness perception and social functioning on the relationship between SES and HRQoL were 0.33 and 0.31, making up 41.06% and 38.91% of the sum. The chain indirect effect of illness perception and social functioning was 0.10, making up 12.59% of the total effect, while gender did not play a moderating role.

Conclusion

Illness perception and social functioning may independently and accumulatively mediate the association between SES and HRQoL. Nurses should consider developing individual intervention program for young and middle-aged MHD patients with low SES, focusing on establishing targeted counseling and health education strategies corresponding to illness perception and social functioning to help patients improve their HRQoL.

Factors Related to Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Taiwan had the second highest number globally of end-stage renal disease patients undergoing treatment in 2018. A meta-analysis of Chen et al. (2021) showed the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 were 7.7% and 22.4%, respectively. Few studies have explored the effects of patients' self-participation and perceptions of hemodialysis on their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the factors related to hemodialysis patients' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was a descriptive correlational study. Patients were recruited (n = 298) from the hemodialysis unit of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Variables included patients' sociodemographic, psychological, spiritual, and clinical characteristics (i.e., perceived health level, comorbidities, hemodialysis duration, weekly frequency, transportation, and accompaniment during hemodialysis), perceptions of hemodialysis, self-participation in hemodialysis, and health-related quality of life (KDQOL-36 scale). Data were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate and multivariate linear regression. Multivariate linear regression, after adjusting for covariates, showed that anxiety, self-perceived health status, two vs. four comorbidities, and self-participation in hemodialysis were significantly associated with quality of life. The overall model was significant and accounted for 52.2% (R² = 0.522) of the variance in quality of life during hemodialysis (adjusted R² = 0.480). In conclusion, the quality of life of hemodialysis patients with mild, moderate, or severe anxiety was poorer, whereas that of patients with fewer comorbidities, higher self-perceived health status, and higher self-participation in hemodialysis was better.

Relationship Between Nutritional Parameters and Quality of Life in Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease on In-Centre Haemodialysis in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition threatens the quality of life (QOL) in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on haemodialysis (HD). The aim of the study is to assess which nutritional parameters associate with the health-related QOL category score using Arabic translated, adapted, and validated version of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form 36 (KDQOL-36).

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional study with a total of 60 ESKD patients in one haemodialysis centre in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The health-related QOL of the five components of the KDQOL-36 are as follows: physical component score (PCS), mental component score (MCS), the burden of kidney disease (BKD), symptoms and problems of kidney disease (SPKD), and effects kidney disease (EKD) which were grouped into three categories (good, average and poor) based on the score.

RESULTS

Of the 60 HD patients, 43 (71.7%) were between 19 and 59 years old and 41 patients (68.3%) were males. This study revealed that high haemoglobin impact PCS, MCS, SPKD, and EKD in favour of poor health-related QOL, but normal haemoglobin impacts BKD in favour of good QOL. In addition, patients who had a normal serum albumin level had good scores for MCS, BKD, SPKD, and EKD. Also, there was a significant association between Kt/V value with EKD (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of this study, patients with HD have poor health-related QOL outcomes than those with good nutritional status. This finding demonstrates the critical need for further articles to study this particular group of population.

Relación entre bienestar psicológico y la percepción de calidad de vida en pacientes en hemodiálisis

Introducción: La hemodiálisis es la alternativa terapéutica más empleada en los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica; sin embargo, no se han establecido de forma multidimensional las condiciones de bienestar psicológico y la calidad de vida de estos pacientes.Objetivo: Analizar el perfil de bienestar psicológico y percepción de calidad de vida de pacientes en hemodiálisis, así como diferenciar e identificar la relación entre estas variables.Material y método: Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal realizado a 173 pacientes en hemodiálisis. Se emplearon los cuestionarios PGWBI para evaluar el bienestar psicológico y el WHOQOL-BREF para la calidad de vida.Resultados: Pacientes con ERC en tratamiento con HD con un promedio de 57,59±13,31 años, predominantemente de género masculino (n=110; 63,58%). Se encontraron altos índices de bienestar psicológico (78,61%) y percepciones moderadas de calidad de vida (54,91%), acompañadas de sintomatología depresiva (97,11%) y ansiosa (97,11%). La edad, nivel educativo, condición laboral, ingresos económicos, tener Diabetes Mellitus y concentraciones sanguíneas inadecuadas de hemoglobina, potasio y fósforo, mostraron diferencias en los dominios y categorías (p<0,01). El análisis correlacional encontró una estrecha relación lineal entre las dos variables estudiadas (r=0,81; p=0,0001).Conclusiones: Los participantes del estudio mostraron altas percepciones de bienestar psicológico y moderadas apreciaciones de calidad de vida a expensas de elevadas valoraciones de positividad, autocontrol, vitalidad y percepciones de salud física, psicológica y relaciones sociales. El bienestar psicológico desde sus diferentes categorías influencia directamente la percepción de calidad de vida de los pacientes en hemodiálisis.

Clinical outcomes and performance indicators of patients with Kidney Failure and Acute Kidney Injuries in ASEAN countries

INTRODUCTION

This review article reports clinical outcomes and performance indicators of patients with Kidney Failure (KF) and Acute Kidney Injuries (AKI) in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

METHODOLOGY

ASEAN data, segregated by income status, from national registries and literature were collated, compared and benchmarked against international references.

RESULTS

The national incidence and prevalence of treated KF ranged from 172-479 per million population (pmp) and 36-2255 pmp respectively. Brunei (79%), Malaysia (66%) and Singapore (66%) had world-leading proportions of diabetes-related KF. Haemodialysis (HD), Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and transplant accounted for 68-100%, 0-27% and 0-18% of all Kidney Failure Replacement Therapy respectively. Transplant patient survival were superior with 90-93% at five years and 71-90% at 10 years, compared to PD (44-54%) and HD (53-64%) at five years. Higher-income countries were able to achieve good anaemia control, HD and PD adequacy targets, whilst usage of arteriovenous fistula in HD varied from 70-85%. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) rates ranged from 24.2-49.2% of high-dependency admissions. Lower incidences of PD peritonitis and HD Catheter-related Bloodstream Infections; and PD-favouring quality-of-life were evident in higher-income countries.

CONCLUSION

ASEAN has a challenging burden of kidney disease, with extremely high incidence, prevalence, DM-related KF and AKI rates. The magnitude of the prevailing problem calls for the creation of a regional society under the auspices of ASEAN with a shared perspective of universal, equitable and charitable access to quality renal care; consistent with the founding premises and healthcare initiatives of ASEAN. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Quality of life assessment in patients on chronic dialysis: Comparison between haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis at a national hospital in Vietnam

OBJECTIVES

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a chronic disease that can adversely affect the patient's quality of life (QoL) in terms of functional limitation and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with QoL in patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis at a national hospital in Vietnam.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among outpatients aged ≥18 years who underwent haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) for at least 3 months at Thong Nhat Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from May 2020 to July 2021. QoL was measured using the validated Vietnamese version of the EuroQol-5 Dimensional-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L). The factors associated with the QoL of patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis were identified using multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 131 (73.6%) and 47 (26.4%) patients underwent HD and PD, respectively. Overall, 178 (55.6%) patients were men (median age, 66 [56-79] years). The mean EQ-5D-5L score was significantly higher in patients undergoing PD than in those undergoing HD (0.848 ± 0.183 vs. 0.766 ± 0.231; p = 0.030). Older age (β = -0.006; p < 0.001) and peptic ulcer disease (β = -0.083; p = 0.029) were associated with lower QoL scores. PD treatment was associated with higher QoL scores (β = 0.065; p = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to improve the QoL of patients undergoing dialysis, especially of elderly patients and patients with peptic ulcer disease. PD may be a better method for maintenance dialysis, if applicable, in terms of QoL.

Study on the Application and Efficacy of Responsibility Nursing in Dialysis Care

Providing high-quality care to patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is a priority for nurses. The present study was conducted to explore the experiences of the quality of nursing care among patients, nurses, and caregivers in Yanghu Branch of Changzhou Second People's Hospital, China. A total of 120 hemodialysis patients consecutively admitted to Yanghu Branch of Changzhou Second People's Hospital were enrolled and divided into two groups according to the nursing method they received: control group (routine nursing) and experimental group (responsibility nursing). The two cohorts were observed and compared for alterations of adverse emotions and inflammatory factors, the incidence of complications, pre-and post-nursing sleep quality, life quality, and patients' satisfaction with nursing. After nursing, the Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale (SAS/DS) scores were lower in the experimental group (EG) than in the control group (CG) (both P < 0.05). Serum IL-6, hs-CRP, and TNF-α were decreased in both groups after nursing and were even lower in EG (both P < 0.05). EG had significantly improved sleep quality and life quality than CG, with a higher nursing satisfaction (all P < 0.05). This validates that the responsibility nursing for dialysis patients can validly mitigate patients' negative emotions, improve their quality of life, and ensure high-quality dialysis effect, which is feasible for wide popularization and application in clinics.

Costs and healthcare utilisation of patients with chronic kidney disease in Spain

BACKGROUND

Data about the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on health care costs in Spain are scarce This study was aimed to evaluate cumulative costs and healthcare utilisation in CKD in Spain.

METHODS

Observational, retrospective, population-based study, which included adults who received care for CKD between 2015 and 2019. Healthcare and medication costs were summarized on a yearly basis starting from the index date (1st January 2015), and then cumulatively until 2019.

RESULTS

We identified 44,214 patients with CKD (year 2015: age 76.4 ± 14.3 years, 49.0% women, albumin-to-creatinine ratio 362.9 ± 176.8 mg/g, estimated glomerular filtration rate 48.7 ± 13.2 mL/min/1.73 m2). During the 2015-2019 period, cumulative CKD associated costs reached 14,728.4 Euros, being cardiovascular disease hospitalizations, particularly due to heart failure and CKD, responsible for 77.1% of costs. Total medication cost accounted for 6.6% of the total cost. There was a progressive decrease in cardiovascular disease hospital costs per year (from 2741.1 Euros in 2015 to 1.971.7 Euros in 2019). This also occurred with cardiovascular and diabetic medication costs, as well as with the proportion of hospitalizations and mortality. Costs and healthcare resources use were higher in the DAPA-CKD like population, but also decreased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Between 2015 and 2019, costs of patients with CKD in Spain were high, with cardiovascular hospitalizations as the key determinant. Medication costs were responsible for only a small proportion of total CKD costs. Improving CKD management, particularly with the use of cardiovascular and renal protective medications may be helpful to reduce CKD burden.