People with CKD experience a high symptom burden, although little is known about the burden for people with CKD Stage 4 and for those with CKD Stage 5 receiving peritoneal dialysis. This review recommends that a full range of symptoms be assessed for those at different stages of CKD. Improved understanding of the burden of symptoms can be used as the basis for treatment choices and for identifying priorities which are likely to contribute to a better quality of life and improve the quality of care.

Targeted strategies are required to retain and avoid burnout in younger and less experienced nurses in this highly specialised field of nursing.

In CKD, symptom burden is better understood when capturing the multidimensional aspects of a range of physical and psychological symptoms. Fatigue, pain and sexual dysfunction are key contributors to symptom burden, and these symptoms are often under-recognised and warrant routine assessment. The CKD-SBI offers a valuable tool for renal clinicians to assess symptom burden, leading to the commencement of timely and appropriate interventions.

No abstract