OBJECTIVES:

Cancer survivors are projected to increase from 16.9 million people in 2019 to 22.2 million people in 2030. Cancer patients are exposed to more nephrotoxic agents than general population and are hence at a higher risk of developing kidney complications and renal diseases. Renal diseases in cancer patients are associated with a negative prognostic factor for overall survival, worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) more healthcare utilization. This study determines the predictors of renal diseases and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with renal diseases in cancer patients.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with data obtained from 2009 – 2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for cancer patients above the age of 18. HRQoL is determined by Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) using Short Form 12 item (version 2). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were done using t-test, chi square tests, multivariable linear and logistic model while controlling for covariates. All analyses were weighted to get national estimates with α=0.05 in SAS v9.4.

RESULTS:

Out of the 11,820 cancer patients, 1,969 were diagnosed with a renal disease. Significant predictors (p < 0.05) for renal disease were Female (OR = 1.73), Hispanic (OR = 1.84), Black (OR = 2.01), High School Education (OR = 1.43), Living in south (OR = 0.76), Low income (0.91). Adjusted mean PCS and MCS score for cancer patients without renal disease was 49.2 and 47.6 respectively. Mean PCS and MCS score for cancer patients with renal disease was 45.1 and 41.8 indicating worse HRQoL (p = 0.02)

CONCLUSIONS:

Race, sex, education, census region and income were found to be the significant predictors of renal disease in cancer patients. HRQoL in cancer patients with renal disease is worse as compared to patients with just cancer diagnosis.