Quality of life and spirituality of patients with chronic kidney disease: pre- and post-transplant analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: to compare the quality of life (QoL) of patients under dialysis and after kidney transplant; correlate the QoL of transplant patients to sociodemographic, morbid and spirituality/religiosity variables. Method: prospective study with a quantitative approach, with a sample of 27 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis or dialysis undergoing kidney transplant. QoL and spirituality were assessed by the KDQOL-SF and WHOQOL-SRPB tools, being correlated with sociodemographic and economic variables. Results: the dimensions of total mental component, kidney disease effects and kidney disease burden showed significant improvement in the post-transplant period, with p <0.0004. There was a significant correlation between four dimensions of spirituality and seven dimensions of QoL; p ranged from 0.04 to 0.006. Conclusion: there was a significant improvement in QoL in the post-transplant period. The dimensions of spirituality: wholeness and integration, spiritual connection, wonder and inner peace were positively correlated with seven dimensions of QoL.