Quality of Life Assessment in Pediatric Kidney Disease
Summary
Quality of life assessment in children with kidney disease encompasses multidimensional evaluation of physical functioning, emotional wellbeing, social participation and educational engagement. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) impose persistent burdens through treatments such as dialysis or transplantation, dietary restrictions and hospital visits. Standardised instruments—both generic and disease-specific—enable clinicians and researchers to capture patient-reported outcomes, compare subgroups and monitor change over time. Recent advances emphasise the integration of patient and family perspectives, the use of digital platforms for real-time monitoring and the development of culturally sensitive measures. Interdisciplinary collaborations have underscored the interplay between medical factors (residual kidney function, comorbidities) and psychosocial determinants (family support, school reintegration). Effective assessment informs tailored interventions, guides shared decision-making and underpins health-policy initiatives to improve long-term adjustment and resilience in this vulnerable population.
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Quality of Life Assessment in Pediatric Kidney Disease publication trend
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Technical terms
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A patient’s perceived physical, mental and social wellbeing as affected by health status and treatment.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD): A progressive loss of renal function over months or years, classified in stages based on glomerular filtration rate.
End-stage renal disease (ESRD): The most advanced CKD stage requiring dialysis or transplantation to sustain life.
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL): A validated questionnaire measuring physical, emotional, social and school functioning in children and adolescents.
Renal replacement therapy: Medical treatments that substitute for lost kidney function, including haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplantation.
References
- Children on dialysis as well as renal transplanted children report severely impaired health-related quality of life. Quality of Life Research (2018).
- Perception of health-related quality of life in children with chronic kidney disease by the patients and their caregivers: Multicentre national study results. Quality of Life Research (2013).
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