Vo AK. et al., 2023: Measuring quality of life in patients with kidney stone disease: is it the future in endourology?
Vo AK, Somani BK, Ulvik Ø, Beisland C, Seitz C, Juliebø-Jones P.
Department of Urology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton, UK.
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
Purpose of review: Kidney stone disease is recognized to negatively impact quality of life. This pertains to acute episodes, surgical interventions and even during asymptomatic periods. Over time there has been increased attention towards assessing this subjective parameter, including as a determinant of treatment success. Our aim was to evaluate the current status and emerging trends in this field.
Recent findings: Patient groups most affected appear to be recurrent stone formers, cystine stone formers, women, younger populations, non-Caucasians and low-income populations. Several stone specific patient reported outcome measures are now available of which, WISQol has been implemented the most in clinical research studies. More invasive interventions such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy impede quality of life to greater extent than alternatives such as shockwave lithotripsy.
Summary: There are certain patient groups who are more vulnerable to the negative impact of kidney stone disease on their quality of life. Urologists can improve patient care by recognizing these particular populations as well as by implemented patient reported outcome measures in their routine clinical practice and when performing research.
Curr Opin Urol. 2023 Oct 30. doi: 10.1097/MOU.0000000000001138. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37889517
Comments 1
The article describes QoL in patients with kidney stone disease, both generally and in relation to stone-removal.
It is obvious that QoL is most negatively affected postoperatively. Although the results are more inconsistent than one would hope, it is of interest that QoL was superior in patients treated with SWL compared with invasive procedures such as PCNL. One important factor leading to low QoL was the presence of internal stents that commonly are used after both URS and PCNL.
Certain patient groups were shown to be more often negatively affected by the stone disease and that was patients with recurrent stone formation, cystine stones, women, and young patients.
This report does not add any more important information because of personal variations, but it is important to keep HRQoL in mind when different procedures for stone removal are compared!
Hans-Göran Tiselius