Assessing and improving the health-related quality of life of patients with ESRD

Impairment of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is now well documented. These impairments involve a wide variety of domains and can be assessed using an array of well-validated instruments. Incorporation of at least some of these instruments into routine patient care is important in order to measure the physical and psychological impact of a disease and its treatment on the HRQOL of patients. How this implementation can be achieved in a practical way is, however, a challenge. As more research focuses on improving the HRQOL of patients with ESRD, the systematic evaluation of HRQOL and incorporation into patient care is becoming increasingly important. Whether strategies to improve the HRQOL of patients will translate into improved patient outcomes-as evidenced by reduced mortality and hospitalizations-and lower costs, remains to be determined.