Living with dialysis: Activities of daily life, social participation, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients in Chhattisgarh.

Abstract

Chhattisgarh is one of the poorest states in Central India, and a large part of the state is underdeveloped. In this state, there is a recent increase in unusual high number of deaths due to kidney diseases. Renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis [HD]) is required when chronic kidney disease patients reach a stage of end stage renal disease. Most of the dialysis patients are referred from periphery dialysis centers to this hospital for tertiary care and follow-up. Dialysis patients often experience physical and social limitations which give rise to negative psychological experiences and further worsen their quality of life (QoL). The aim of the present study was to examine the functional status (FS) of activity of daily living, social participation, and QoL among HD patients in central India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among HD patients followed up in the Nephrology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in central India from January to June 2022. The FS, social participation, and QoL were assessed using the Katz activity of daily living, the participation scale, and the kidney disease QoL short-form questionnaire version 1.3. A linear regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of FS, social participation, and QoL among the participants. This study included 105 HD patients. The mean scores of Katz activity of daily living, the participation scale, and kidney disease QoL short-form questionnaire were 3.30 ± 1.33, 50.16 ± 12.4, and 48.12 ± 11.2, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the kidney disease QoL short-form scores and Katz functional activity scores. In contrast, a negative correlation was found between the kidney disease QoL short-form scores and the participation scores. The presence of diabetes and distance traveled were the most common predictors linked with FS, social participation, and QoL in HD patients. The Katz functional activity, participation, and kidney disease QoL short-form scores were notably low. Early identification, intervention, and regular monitoring of these factors were essential for improving the overall health of HD patients.