Quality of life and social characteristics of young adults in chronic hemodialysis with pediatric-onset renal disease.

Introduction. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) and its social consequences have not been evaluated in adults who started renal replacement therapy (RRT) in childhood/adolescence and are currently on hemodialysis. Population and methods. We compared 26 patients who started their RRT at <18 years with a group that started their RRT at 18 years or more. We studied social variables and HRQL with the KDQOL-36 questionnaire. Scores >50 indicate good HRQL. Results. The study was conducted in 2018. The scores were: physical health: 55 and 58.1; mental health: 61.2 and 66.7; disease burden: 39.2 and 37.3; symptoms and problems: 75.6 and 78.5; effects: 65.9 and 51.6 (p < 0.019) for those who started RRT at pediatric age or adult age respectively. Socioeconomic status and education were similar in both groups. Fifty percent of the patients with RRT from pediatric age and 38.5% of those who started with RRT in adulthood were unemployed. In the group who started RRT at pediatric age, 61.5% lived with their parents vs. 19% of those who started RRT in adulthood; 11.5% of the patients with RRT at pediatric age had a partner vs. 42.3% of those who started RRT as adults. Conclusions. Adults with the onset of RRT in childhood who are currently on hemodialysis have a good perception of HRQL, superior to adults with a recent onset of RRT. They have a good education, but their lack of work, independent living, and having a partner is related to the burden of illness.