Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis in an Academic Hospital

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive, irreversible loss of renal function that often advances to end-stage renal disease, with diabetes and hypertension being the leading causes. It is a major public health concern because it significantly impairs health-related quality of life through physical, psychological, and social limitations, especially in patients on long-term hemodialysis. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the health-related quality of life among chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis in an academic hospital. Methods & Materials: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, over 6 months after protocol approval. A total of 100 CKD patients on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled by purposive sampling, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire with SF-36 to assess quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, and ethical approval with written informed consent was obtained while ensuring confidentiality. Results: The study included 100 CKD patients on hemodialysis, predominantly aged 61-70 years (33.0%) and male (76.0%). Most were engaged in business/service and had primary-level education. Non-smokers formed the majority (56.0%). Diabetic nephropathy was the leading cause of CKD (32.0%). Most patients had serum creatinine 5-7 mg/dl and 1-5 years of dialysis duration. SF-36 scores were highest in pain and lowest in general health perception, with poorer scores seen in patients on dialysis for >5 years. Conclusion: Patients on long-term hemodialysis have significantly poorer health-related quality of life, particularly in physical, emotional, social functioning, and general health domains.