Symptoms are related to HRQOL in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Harith Eranga Yapa, PhD, and colleagues tested whether the revised Wilson and Cleary model could identify which factors contribute to HRQOL in CKD. The analysis included 866 individuals with CKD who completed validated, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Biological function (decreased kidney function and hemoglobin and greater number of comorbidities) directly contributed to increased symptom burden. There was a strong negative relationship observed between symptoms and both general health perceptions and HRQOL, while general health perceptions had a direct positive relationship with HRQOL. HRQOL decreased with increasing age, with one-half of HRQOL deterioration explained by the model. “Regular assessments could help nurses to track people who need increased attention, so that prompt and timely interventions, such as education, pharmacological, and nonpharmacological strategies, could be implemented to relieve symptom burden,” the study authors wrote.
