The occurrence of chronic kidney disease has resulted in a loss of physical and mental performance among individuals, deteriorating their quality of life (QOL). It sometimes leads to severe conditions of disability among patients who are on hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Further results include unemployment, depression, pain, low sleep quality, and an increased risk for malnutrition, inflammation, and anaemia among the patients. As a result, most patients have been observed with increased hospitalization and mortality due to their abnormal body conditions. A strong association between physical performance and clinical, mental, and social outcomes has been considered as the thrust for developing the tools for quantifying physical performance in patients on regular dialysis treatment.
Kidney transplantation has been known to be a transforming tool for enhancing patient care in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Every year, almost 17,600 kidney transplants are performed in the regions of the United States, and 193,000 patients have been recorded as having a functioning graft. In cases where the transplant functions for at least one year, the median survival of the kidney depends entirely upon the donor type and is between 12 and 16 years. As a result, kidney transplantation improves patients' quality of life (QOL) and health outcomes dramatically. The improved health outcomes are not considered universal, while most patients tend to experience suffering due to graft loss.
Patient's Quality of Life (QOL) Post-Kidney Transplant
The quality of life among the patients comprises various health-related concerns from the patient’s perspective involving their physical, psychological, and social functioning as well as their overall well-being. Different clinical trials are conducted to establish the importance of quality of life in terms of various diseases. The quality of life among the patients is mainly identified as the measure of outcome looking forward to solid organ transplantation. It is integrated towards quantitative improvements among patients and graft survival where it has evolved as a valid outcome measurement for improving the life quality of the patients in terms of health outcomes.
Kidney transplantation has become the most cost-effective treatment when compared with the dialysis method of treatment for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to the decreased medical cost, prolonged life with extension, and enhanced quality of life among the patients with a better health outcome
The quality of life among kidney transplant recipients has evolved to several advantages in terms of improved quality of life. But life after a Post kidney transplant may have positive as well as negative aspects. Hence, it is essential to describe the demographic and clinical factors that influence the quality of life of patients with positive health outcomes.
Patients’ Experiences and Expectations Post-Kidney Transplant
A majority of the population has undergone kidney transplants for prolonged survival from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Still, there is a very limited understanding of the patient experience post-kidney transplant. Many of the patients have tended to experience everyday life with common themes of fear, gratitude, and the medicalization of their lives post-treatment, while some of them have experienced adverse scenarios such as patients losing their grafts, which represent the patients’ understanding of appropriate clinical decision-making.
The patients explained their life events before and after transplantation and revealed that before transplantation, most patients overestimate the advantages of a positive health outcome on quality of life. Patients felt more certain about graft loss when compared with mortality estimation. Furthermore, some reports have revealed recipients' experiences and expectations of interacting with the healthcare system in terms of care and its relationship with cost and support systems. Book an appointment today for Kidney transplant treatment in Mangalore.
Patients have shared their health improvement experiences with increased energy levels to carry out their daily activities. Also, some of them have clearly implicated the relief that they felt from renal failure and dialysis after kidney transplantation. But post-kidney transplants have also resulted in undesirable changes in the patients’ lives in terms of medication effects and the occurrence of comorbidities.
Consultant - Nephrologist
Manipal Hospitals, Mangalore
