title: Health-related quality of life as a predictor of mortality among survivors of AKI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between health-related quality of life and subsequent mortality among AKI survivors treated with renal replacement therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess the associations between Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) and ambulation, emotion, cognition, and pain scores at 60 days and all-cause mortality at 1 year in 60-day AKI survivors (n=439 with evaluable HUI3 assessments) from a randomized multicenter study comparing less- with more-intensive renal replacement therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median 60-day HUI3 index score was 0.32. Patients with evaluable HUI3 data who died between 60 days and 1 year (n=99) were more likely to have lower 60-day median HUI3 scores, higher comorbidity scores, and longer initial hospital stays, and they were more likely to be dialysis-dependent. A 0.1 higher HUI3 index score was associated with a 17% decrease (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.89) in all-cause mortality after controlling for clinical risk factors. Similar associations were observed for HUI3 ambulation, emotion, cognition, and pain attribute scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health-related quality of life measured by HUI3 is an independent predictor of mortality among survivors of AKI after adjusting for clinical risk variables. Poor ambulation and other health-related quality of life attributes are also associated with increased risk of death. Health-related quality of life may provide clinicians with additional information to help identify patients at high risk of mortality after AKI that required renal replacement therapy.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Resource Center, Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. vilija.joyce@va.gov
authors.forename: Vilija R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kirsten L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Unruh
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Siroka
authors.forename: Theresa Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Palevsky
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy; D017741:Survivors