OBJECTIVES:

There are about 40000 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Slovakia and about 4500 patients are treated by dialysis. More than 120 patients undergo kidney (KT) transplantation per year. The objective of this study was to find out the level of quality of life (QoL) in patients and other relevant characteristics in patients with KT.

METHODS:

The primary method used for the analysis of QoL was the own original combined questionnaire. Statistical methods from Excel 2010 (Student,- Dunn, - Friedman, Spearmann tests) were used in results evaluation.

RESULTS:

There were 100 patients in the examined group, 61men, 39 women, with age average 49,1 years. The average of CKD duration was- 12,17 years, symptoms before diagnosis- 5,8 months, waiting time to transplantation- 3,81 y, time after transplantation- 5,8 y, outpatients visits (nephrology, urology, GP, others)- 7,2 per year. Present level of QoL was identified as 7,22 on the scale from 0 to 10, in the time of the diagnosis - 4,57, in the time of KT- 5,86, in the time without CKD – 8,85 and in optimal state of health- 8,99. Comparative to the QoL was examined the ability to work (AW) – 5,53 vs 4,82 vs 3,87 vs 8,91 vs 9,28. The impact of KT on family QoL reached 6,11. The level of information about the disease was 4,3, physician care- 4,65, nursing care- 4,76 (0-the worst, 5- the best). Disability per month was 3,1 days vs 1,3 days from other diseases. The average income was 339,7 € and the willingness to pay for 1 month of full health was 305,4 € per month.

CONCLUSIONS:

KT had a significant positive impact on patients´s QoL and AW. QoL and AW had strong correlation each other. The others parameter had no impact on QoL – gender, duration of dialysis, time before transplantation.