Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and CKD Stages 1-4: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: In people with early autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), average total kidney volume (TKV) is 3 times normal and increases by an average of 5% per year despite a seemingly normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We hypothesized that increased TKV would be a source of morbidity and diminished quality of life that would be worse in patients with more advanced disease. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Setting & Participants: 1,043 patients with ADPKD, hypertension, and a baseline estimated GFR (eGFR) > 20 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Predictors: (1) eGFR, (2) height-adjusted TKV (htTKV) in patients with eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Outcomes: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Wisconsin Brief Pain Survey. Measurements: Questionnaires were self-administered. GFR was estimated from serum creatinine using the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation. htTKV was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Back pain was reported by 50% of patients, and 20% experienced it often, usually, or always. In patients with early disease (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), there was no association between pain and htTKV, except in patients with large kidneys (htTKV > 1,000 mL/m). Comparing across eGFR levels and including patients with eGFRs < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), patients with eGFRs of 20-44 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were significantly more likely to report that pain impacted on their daily lives and had lower SF-36 scores than patients with eGFRs of 45-60 and >= 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Symptoms relating to abdominal fullness were reported by 20% of patients and were related significantly to lower eGFRs in women, but not men. Limitations: TKV and liver volume were not measured in patients with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). The number of patients with eGFRs < 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) is small. Causal inferences are limited by cross-sectional design. Conclusions: Pain is a common early symptom in the course of ADPKD, although it is not related to kidney size in early disease (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), except in individuals with large kidneys (htTKV > 1,000 mL/m). Symptoms relating to abdominal fullness and pain are greater in patients with more advanced (eGFR, 20-45 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) disease and may be due to organ enlargement, especially in women. More research about the role of TKV in quality of life and outcomes of patients with ADPKD is warranted. (C) 2014 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.