Quality of life in end‐stage renal disease: Influence of renal transplantation

Abstract

A sample (n = 73) of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients were evaluated on objective (physical) and subjective (psychological) quality of life indices. A comparative assessment was made between three treatment groups: (1) patients with a functioning renal transplant; (2) failed (returned to hemodialysis) transplant patients; (3) untransplanted, in‐center hemodialysis patients. Results for physical well‐being indicated that patients maintaining a functioning graft; reported less restriction in mobility, exhibited less functional impairment, and had a higher rate of vocational rehabilitation than patients in the other two groups. No significant group differences were found on indices of ambulation or body care and movement. In terms of psychological well‐being, successfully transplanted patients reported less anxiety and a higher level of subjective well‐being than the two groups of patients receiving hemodialysis. Similarly, patients with a functioning graft had the lowest depression scores. However, the group of patients experiencing a failed transplant exhibited a significantly greater degree of depression than the untransplanted hemodialysis patients. Clinical implications of the results are discussed, and recommendations are made for future quality of life research in the ESRD population.