Health-Related Quality of Life in Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis and Minimal Change Disease: A Qualitative Study of Children and Adults to Inform Patient-Reported Outcomes

Rationale & Objective: Assessment of how patients feel and function is needed for clinical care and research for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease (MCD). The objective of this study was to develop a patient-reported outcome assessment appropriate for use in children and adults with FSGS and MCD. Study Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting & Participants: 48 semi-structured interviews with children aged 8 to 17 years (n = 11) and adults (n = 10) with FSGS and children aged 8 to 17 (n = 11) and adults (n = 16) with MCD recruited from 3 academic medical centers. Analytical Approach: Latent content analysis. Results: FSGS and MCD have a pervasive and comparable impact on physical, social, and mental health-related quality of life regardless of age or diagnosis. Physical symptoms of swelling, fatigue, and pain were articulated by most participants. Disease management was also a frequent topic of discussion; participants described their experiences with medication and associated side effects, as well as lifestyle changes made to manage their disease (ie, dietary changes and frequent medical appointments). These discussions often identified a profound impact on physical abilities and life participation. In many instances, participants described the negative impact these symptoms had on their mood and sense of self, with most participants reporting feelings of anxiety. Limitations: Participants were primarily non-Hispanic White and English speaking, which may limit generalizability. Conclusions: Our results suggest that there are commonalities to the FSGS-MCD patient experience of health-related quality of life that will enable the generation of a disease-specific FSGS-MCD patient-reported outcomes instrument for use in children and adults. The development of this tool is intended to facilitate better care and support clinical research for these individuals.

Automated summary

The study revealed that FSGS and MCD have a pervasive and comparable impact on patients' physical, social, and mental health-related quality of life. Participants commonly experienced symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, and pain, and discussed the impact of disease management and treatment on their daily lives.