Children and Adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Population at Risk for More Than Just Kidney Disease

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children and adolescents with chronic health conditions is a multifactorial concept that combines a child's perception and adaptation to physical, social, emotional, and school environments regardless of particular medical diagnosis. Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience non-kidney specific co-morbidities, including depression, body image alterations, and sleep disturbance, that impair their daily lives. This article reviews the pediatric nephrology literature to highlight the evidence identifying these risks to HRQOL and suggesting ways in which nurses in both nephrology and primary care are poised to identify and modify these risk factors.