SynthesisQuality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation2026
Health-related quality of life in chronic kidney disease patients in low- and lower-middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposeHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet data from low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs) are underrepresented. The study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed HRQoL among CKD patients in LLMICs by disease stage and treatment modality.
methodsRegistered in PROSPERO (CRD420251016382), the review searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 1, 2000 - March 28, 2025) for studies including adults with CKD stages 1-5, on dialysis, or post-transplant, using validated HRQoL instruments. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Pooled mean scores were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis, with meta-regression and Egger's test exploring heterogeneity and small-study effects.
resultsA total of 123 studies (n = 24,007) from 22 countries were included. Pooled SF-36 scores were 42.8 (95% CI 39.4-46.3) for Physical Component Summary (PCS) and 47.7 (43.8-51.6) for Mental Component Summary (MCS) in early CKD, versus 36.9 (34.0-39.9) and 42.5 (38.9-46.1), respectively, in late CKD. Transplant recipients showed higher HRQoL than dialysis patients across WHOQOL-BREF domains. The EQ-5D index declined from 0.706 (0.589-0.823) in CKD 1-3 to 0.486 (0.357-0.614) in dialysis.
conclusionCKD patients in LLMICs experience substantial deterioration in quality of life, particularly at advanced stages. Compared to high-income settings, HRQoL scores in LLMICs remain markedly lower, revealing major global inequities. This first region-specific synthesis provides benchmarks for HRQoL across CKD stages and underscores the need for earlier intervention and broader access to transplantation.
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