Anemia increases burden for patients with CKD, caregivers
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Patients with chronic kidney disease and their care partners report a considerable burden, especially when the patients also have anemia, according to data published in Kidney Medicine.
“Patients with CKD experience the loss of kidney function, which can lead to complications such as anemia,” Steven N. Michalopoulos, MPH, of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc. in New Jersey, and colleagues wrote. “Prior studies have shown that patients with CKD experience a substantial burden, but little is known about how this burden varies among patients with and without anemia and how burdensome it is to provide care for someone with CKD.”
In an online survey study, researchers explored the burden experienced by 410 adults with CKD (and anemia: 190, no anemia: 220) and 258 care partners of patients with CKD (and anemia: 110, no anemia: 148). All patients lived in the United States and were recruited for the study between Jan. 9, 2020, and March 12, 2020.
Researchers measured patient and care partner characteristics, care received or provided, health-related quality of life and work productivity as primary outcomes. Additionally, researchers conducted analyses separately based on the presence or absence of anemia.
Survey results revealed 58.9% of patients with CKD and anemia and 50.9% of patients with CKD without anemia reported receiving paid or unpaid care because of their health condition. Care partners reported providing an average of 33.6 hours per week to patients with CKD and anemia and 38 hours per week to those with CKD without anemia. However, care partners who lived with the patient report providing an average of 52.6 hours per week to patients with CKD and anemia and 42.8 hours per week to those with CKD without anemia.
Health-related quality of life was lower among patients with CKD and anemia than those without anemia. Similarly, care partners reported a severe burden and substantial productivity impairment when caring for patients with CKD and anemia.
“The findings of this survey study demonstrate that there is a considerable burden experienced by patients with CKD and the care partners of patients with CKD, especially when anemia is present. The crucial roles of care partners in the CKD patient journey should be recognized, and strategies are needed to improve their quality of life, which could lead to better care for these patients. Further studies are needed to better understand the extent of the burden associated with CKD and the impact of the burden among subgroups (eg, the elderly) as well as explore support strategies for patients and care partners.”
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