Patients with AKI self-report high level of physical, emotional burdens
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Key takeaways:
- Fatigue was the most common symptom reported by patients.
- Social support and exercise may help relieve patients of symptoms.
AUSTIN, Texas — Patients with AKI self-reported a high level of physical and emotional burdens, revealing fatigue to be one of the most common symptoms, according to a presenter at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings.
“We were interested in patient-reported outcomes, like the symptom burden and self-reported quality of life, among survivors of acute kidney injury (AKI). Often, we review the most clinically concerning symptoms, like shortness of breath or chest pain, but little is known about the full spectrum of patient experience after AKI,” Y. Diana Kwong, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California in San Francisco, told Healio.
In a prospective cohort study within a clinical trial, researchers examined 95 patients with AKI treated with intermittent hemodialysis (AKI-D). Of the 95 patients, 64 identified their dialysis symptom index and rated their overall health and quality of life in a survey. Health and quality of life were rated on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent) at three time points.
On Day 0, all 64 patients were hospitalized and on dialysis. By Day 90, none of the 28 respondents were hospitalized, and 14 were on dialysis. Quality of life improved, as did the mean health rating.
Researchers followed 28 patients until Day 90 and recorded the most common symptoms at each time point. These symptoms included fatigue, tactile disturbances, sleep disturbances and emotional distress.
“We were quite surprised [at] how common fatigue was, even at 90 days after AKI,” Kwong told Healio. “In addition, the high prevalence of tactile disturbances (such as dry mouth, dry skin and itching), as well as the psychological symptoms (such as anxiety and sleep disturbances), were unexpected.”
According to Kwong, suggestions to improve the physical and emotional burdens of patients can include increased social support and exercise.
“This study should bring awareness to providers that survivors after AKI face a myriad of physical and emotional symptoms. More research is needed in the best ways to support patients after a hospitalization,” Kwong concluded.
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Kwong YD. et al. Poster 14. Presented at: National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings; April 11-15, 2023; Austin, Texas.
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