A Comparison of Health‐related Quality of Life in Chronic Intestinal Failure and End‐Stage Kidney Disease: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Background

There is inequal access to treatment and scarce evidence on how the disease burden in chronic intestinal failure (CIF) compares to other chronic non‐malignant types of organ failure. Therefore, we compared the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with CIF with that of people with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) on haemodialysis (HD). These groups were selected for comparison as they have similar treatment characteristics. We hypothesized that people treated with HD and people with CIF had similarly poor HRQOL.

Methods

HRQOL was evaluated and compared in a cross‐sectional study of adult people with CIF and people with ESKD HD at a tertiary hospital in Denmark, using the Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36).

Results

141 people with CIF and 131 people with ESKD on HD were included in the analysis. Both groups reported low scores (below 50) for HRQOL on general health, vitality and role limitation ‐ physical. People with ESKD on HD had significantly lower scores than people with CIF regarding physical functioning, general health and vitality when adjusted for sex and age. No significant difference was found for any other SF‐36 domain.

Conclusion

HRQOL was similarly and significantly reduced in people with CIF and in people with ESKD on HD. People with ESKD on HD had significantly poorer HRQOL than people with CIF in some aspects of physical and mental health. Access to HPS treatment varies among countries which typically provide HD, suggesting an inequality in health care based on the type of organ failure.

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