Theoretical framework:

advanced chronic kidney disease (AKD) can have a significant impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, a patient's perception of how life-threatening the disease is can have a significant impact on his or her physical and emotional health.

Aim:

to assess HRQoL and perceived threat of disease in patients with ACKD and to evaluate the associations between the variables under study.

Methods:

70 patients (80 % male), between 38-88 years old (M=68.88; DT= 9.98) were evaluated by means of: the Quality of Life in Kidney Disease Shortened Version Questionnaire (KDOQL-SF36) and the Perception of Threatening Disease Questionnaire (BIPQ). Descriptive analyses, Cohen's t, d tests and Pearson's correlations were performed.

Results:

patients showed a great affectation of their HRQOL and a negative perception of the disease. Women had worse HRQoL and disease perception indicators. A worse perception of the disease was associated with a greater impairment of HRQOL.

Conclusions:

patients' perception of their health may affect their therapeutic adherence, so intervention programs are needed to influence it and favour the patient's physical and mental health.

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