Quality of Life of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Studies assessing the quality of life of chronic kidney disease patients prior to initiating dialysis therapy are much fewer than studies of patients on dialysis. However many of the factors affecting quality of life during dialysis already exist in the early stage of chronic kidney disease and suitable management of these factors could have a positive influence on the course of the illness. This is a cross-sectional study assessing the relationship between sociodemographic and medical factors with the quality of life of chronic kidney disease patients. The study comprises of 113 consecutive adult chronic kidney disease patients attending the renal clinic of the university of Ilorin teaching hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Health related quality of life was assessed using the 26 item World Health Organization quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Age greater than 60 years (p=0.001), receiving adequate social support (p=0.038) were statistically significantly associated with higher score on Environment domain of WHOQOL-BREF, while being divorced (p=0.005) was significantly related to a lower score (i.e. poorer QOL) on this domain. Among the clinical characteristics, being at an advanced stage of CKD and being on current treatment with RRT were statistically significantly associated with lower scores on overall QOL (p=0.017; p=0.045 respectively). These two clinical characteristics were also associated with lower scores (i.e. poorer QOL) on the physical health (p=0.007; p<0.001 respectively), psychological health domain (p=0.04; p=0.01 respectively) and environment domain (p=0.035; p=0.018 respectively) of the WHOQOL-BREF. Both the presence of complication and using higher number of medications were statistically significantly associated with lower scores on health satisfaction (p=0.026; p=0.01 respectively) and the physical health domain (p=0.006; p<0.001 respectively) of WHOQOL-BREF. Sociodemographic and clinical factors influence the quality of life of chronic kidney disease patients. However, efforts made at early detection and treatment with provision of social assistance may help reduce their negative effects on the quality of life of these patients.

Keywords: quality of life; chronic kidney disease; Nigeria