Health related quality of life of patients on maintenance haemodialysis at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: Health related quality of life is increasingly being recognised as a primary outcome measure in treatment of end-stage renal disease. The health related quality of life of patients on maintenance haemodialysis is reduced. Several interventions directed at modifiable risk factors have been shown to improve quality of life of patients on haemodialysis.Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life of patients on maintenance haemodialysis at the Kenyatta National Hospital.Design: Cross sectional descriptive study.Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, Renal Unit.Subjects: The study was conducted on 96 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance haemodialysis. Socio-demographic and clinical factors were recorded for all patients. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 questionnaire. Two summary scores and three subscale scores were calculated.Results: The mean physical composite summary and mental composite summary scores were 39.09±9.49 and 41.87±10.56 respectively. The burden of kidney disease subscale, symptom and problems subscale and effect of kidney disease on daily life subscale scores were 16.15±21.83, 73.46±18.061 and 67.63±23.45 respectively.Conclusion: Health-related quality of life of patients on maintenance haemodialysis is reduced. The physical quality of life is more affected than the mental quality of life. The burden of kidney disease subscale is the most affected subscale score.