HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN END STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) PATIENT: A REVIEW

Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) endure compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although the link between HRQOL and increased mortality in ESRD patients is well documented, less is known about the relationship between CKD and HRQOL. Various co-morbid conditions related to CKD play a substantial role in the impaired HRQOL in CKD. Hypertension, both a cause and complication of CKD, negatively affects HRQOL due to associated co-morbidities, side effects from anti-hypertensive medications and awareness of the diagnosis. This review focuses on health related quality of life in end stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease. From the review of literature, it can be concluded that HRQOL declines with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease. The finding of different HRQOL scores among CKD patients support the need to individualize the concept of HRQOL, so that the crucial aspects of life can be assessed in our patients and integrate these domains into a comprehensive plan of care. The assessment of HRQOL early in disease course will help to identify high-risk CKD patients to whom modifying factors may help them to lead an active and healthy life. To maintain the well-being and functional capacity of CKD patients attention should be directed towards maintaining strength and aerobic fitness as well as focusing on renal function and anemia or other comorbidities