[Quantitative assessment of the quality of life of patients with a kidney transplant]

Abstract

Actually three methods are offered for the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure: 1. Hemodialysis, 2. chronic peritoneal dialysis for outpatients (CAPD) and 3. Transplantation of a kidney. In order to define the optimal therapy for these patients not only economic factors but also quantitative evaluation of life quality has to be taken into account. To this end a questionnaire called "Sickness Impact Profile", that covers most of the relevant features of life and is well established in the Anglo-Saxon countries, was translated into German language and tested in 34 hemodialysis-patients, 25 CAPD-patients and 29 patients with kidney transplant, in order to investigate the applicability. Results showed that the German issue can successfully be applied to Swiss patients with renal failure and lead to the conclusion that--in accordance to results of similar studies in the USA--life quality in patients with kidney transplant is better than in patients treated with hemodialysis or CAPD.