Association of the rapid decline in kidney function with the rapid deterioration of health-related quality of life in chronic kidney disease: finding from the KNOW-CKD study

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to the decline in kidney function. HRQOL was assessed using the Short from-36 questionnaire composed of a physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). The rapid decline of kidney function was defined as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of > 3 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. The rapid deterioration of HRQOL was defined as higher than the median of the changes in HRQOL values. Among 970 patients, 360 (37.1%) were in the rapid kidney function decline group. In 720 patients who were 1:1 propensity score-matched, the baseline eGFR was not significantly different between the non-rapid and rapid kidney function decline groups. Compared with the baseline PCS, the 5-year PCS decreased in the non-rapid and rapid kidney function decline groups before and after PSM. Five-year MCS significantly decreased only in the rapid kidney function decline group. In propensity score-matched patients, rapid decline in kidney function was significantly associated with the rapid deterioration of PCS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.07–2.05; P = 0.018) and MCS (OR:1.89; 95% CI:1.36–2.62; P < 0.001). The rapid decline in kidney function was associated with the rapid deterioration of HRQOL in CKD patients.