Comparison of quality of life between haemodialysis and renal transplant patients

Abstract

Quality of life is an important concern in health care and the allocation of health care resources. It changes following any major changes in people's lives, for example becoming unemployed, having acquired higher education or becoming chronically ill. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare quality of life in haemodialysis and kidney transplantation patients referred to hospital. The study used a descriptive-analytic design, and was undertaken in the haemodialysis unit of a university hospital and a nephrology clinic. 213 subjects were included in the sample. They were divided into two groups: renal transplant patients and chronic haemodialysis patients. The groups were matched for age, sex, and level of education. Quality of life data were collected using the SF-36 questionnaire for evaluation of quality of life and a visual analogue scale to rate overall quality of life. Results indicated that renal transplant patients had better overall healthy thinking and physical condition (p < 0.001) and ability to undertake daily activities (p < 0.001) and emotional status (p < 0.001) than haemodialysis patients. The results showed that, overall, quality of life was better for renal transplantation patients than haemodialysis patients (p < 0.001). In general, quality of life improved after successful kidney transplantation compared to dialysis.