Health-Related Quality of Life Impacts Mortality but Not Progression to End-Stage Renal Disease in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.
BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, the relationship between pre-dialysis CKD, HRQL and clinical outcomes, including mortality and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is unclear.


METHODS
All 745 participants recruited into the Renal Impairment In Secondary Care study to end March 2014 were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected at baseline including an assessment of HRQL using the Euroqol EQ-5D-3L. Health states were converted into an EQ-5Dindex score using a set of weighted preferences specific to the UK population. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression and competing risk analyses were undertaken to evaluate the association of HRQL with progression to ESRD or all-cause mortality. Regression analyses were then performed to identify variables associated with the significant HRQL components.


RESULTS
Median eGFR was 25.8 ml/min/1.73 m2 (IQR 19.6-33.7ml/min) and median ACR was 33 mg/mmol (IQR 6.6-130.3 mg/mmol). Five hundred and fifty five participants (75.7%) reported problems with one or more EQ-5D domains. When adjusted for age, gender, comorbidity, eGFR and ACR, both reported problems with self-care [hazard ratio 2.542, 95% confidence interval 1.222-5.286, p = 0.013] and reduced EQ-5Dindex score [hazard ratio 0.283, 95% confidence interval 0.099-0.810, p = 0.019] were significantly associated with an increase in all-cause mortality. Similar findings were observed for competing risk analyses. Reduced HRQL was not a risk factor for progression to ESRD in multivariable analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired HRQL is common in the pre-dialysis CKD population. Reduced HRQL, as demonstrated by problems with self-care or a lower EQ-5Dindex score, is associated with a higher risk for death but not ESRD. Multiple factors influence these aspects of HRQL but renal function, as measured by eGFR and ACR, are not among them.
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Mark D
MD
Jesky
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Mary
M
Dutton
Renal Unit, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Indranil
I
Dasgupta
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Punit
P
Yadav
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Khai Ping
KP
Ng
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Anthony
A
Fenton
Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Derek
D
Kyte
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Charles J
CJ
Ferro
Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Melanie
M
Calvert
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Paul
P
Cockwell
Department of Renal Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Stephanie J
SJ
Stringer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors