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Abstract: TH-PO235

Assessing the Impact of Hyperkalemia on the Quality of Life of Dialysis Patients Compared with Non-Dialysis Patients: Results from a Real-World Study in the United States and European Union 5

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 701 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis

Authors

  • Tafesse, Eskinder, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
  • Jackson, James, Adelphi Real World, Macclesfield, United Kingdom
  • Moon, Rebecca, Adelphi Real World, Macclesfield, United Kingdom
  • Milligan, Gary R., Adelphi Real World, Macclesfield, United Kingdom
  • Kim, Jennifer, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Background

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for hyperkalemia (HK), which increases with CKD disease severity. Quality of life (QoL) may be impacted by the presence of HK, which is associated with greater risk of sudden cardiac death and hospitalization among hemodialysis patients. Only limited data exists on the impact of HK on the QoL of CKD patients who are dialysis dependent (DD) compared with non-dialysis dependent (NDD) patients, with and without HK.

Methods

Data from the 2015 and 2018 Adelphi CKD Disease Specific Programmes were pooled and analyzed. These real-world surveys collected data from physicians and patients with CKD in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the USA. Patients completed the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D) questionnaire and the EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Physicians provided data on patient demographics, disease characteristics and comorbidities. A multiple linear regression was performed for EQ-5D utility and EQ-VAS to assess the association between NDD patients with HK (K+ >5.0 mmol/L), DD patients without HK (K+ 3.5-5.0 mmol/L), and DD patients; with HK to a reference group of NDD patients without HK (and their interaction), adjusting for age, sex, eGFR level, HF and diabetes.

Results

NDD patients with HK (n=176) had a significantly lower mean EQ-5D utility score than NDD patients without HK (n=766) (0.788 vs. 0.825; p=0.039). DD patients with HK (n=100) reported an additional deterioration in mean EQ-5D utility scores compared with NDD patients without HK (0.755; p=0.009) indicating poorer health status among this cohort. EQ-VAS mean scores also showed a significantly poorer QoL for NDD patients with HK (n=175) compared to NDD patients without HK (n=766; 64.7 vs. 67.5; p=0.048). Further reduction in QoL was observed for DD patients with HK (n=100) (62.3 vs. 67.5; p=0.015), compared with NDD patients without HK.

Conclusion

HK is associated with reduced EQ-5D health state utility scores in CKD patients. DD patients with HK experienced significantly greater negative impact on their QoL compared with NDD patients without HK. New therapeutic options and effective management of HK in DD CKD patients may positively improve QoL in this population.

Funding

  • Commercial Support –