WHICH PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE HAVE THE GREATEST SYMPTOM BURDEN? A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ADVANCED CKD STAGE AND DIALYSIS MODALITY.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to a range of symptoms, which are often under-recognised and little is known about the multidimensional symptom experience in advanced CKD.

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) symptom burden at CKD stages 4 and 5, and dialysis modalities, and (2) demographic and renal history correlates of symptom burden.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 436 people with CKD was recruited from three hospitals. The CKD Symptom Burden Index (CKD-SBI) was used to measure the prevalence, severity, distress and frequency of 32 symptoms. Demographic and renal history data were also collected.

RESULTS: Of the sample, 75.5 % were receiving dialysis (haemodialysis, n = 287; peritoneal dialysis, n = 42) and 24.5 % were not undergoing dialysis (stage 4, n = 69; stage 5, n = 38). Participants reported an average of 13.01 ± 7.67 symptoms. Fatigue and pain were common and burdensome across all symptom dimensions. While approximately one-third experienced sexual symptoms, when reported these symptoms were frequent, severe and distressing. Haemodialysis, older age and being female were independently associated with greater symptom burden.

CONCLUSIONS: 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.