Quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease: A review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk condition for young patients that can cause psychosocial impairment and psychiatric symptoms. The aim of this literature review was to study the living conditions of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease and to highlight the difficulties that these individuals are called upon to face on a daily basis. Complementary objectives of this review were to look for factors that may contribute to improving the quality of life of such individuals. Methods: The literature of the years 2014-2021 was reviewed using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The present literature review included studies that refer to the quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease and the difficulties they encounter daily. Results: Approximately 3082 studies were retrieved and further reviewed. After reviewing their title, abstract and full text, 11 studies were selected meeting the inclusion criteria of this review and were used for its compilation. Conclusions: In most of the selected studies, the prevailing perception was that children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease have a lower quality of life in various areas, compared to their healthy peers. Furthermore, statistics have shown that children with chronic kidney disease face several difficulties on a daily basis, but there are several factors that contribute to the improvement of their daily life.