Impact of health education on quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with lower quality of life (QoL) than the general population, and health education is widely proposed to help patients manage the disease. We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review of studies published between 2014 and April 2024 evaluating educational interventions in adults with CKD using a validated QoL instrument. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data, resolving disagreements with a third reviewer; risk of bias was assessed with RoB2 and ROBINS-I. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Educational interventions were generally associated with improvements in QoL and clinical parameters, more consistently for mental than physical health, although certainty of evidence was limited by heterogeneity in design, populations and outcomes, and by a predominance of studies with some concerns or high risk of bias. Health education appears a valuable component of CKD care, but well-designed, prospectively registered trials are needed before firm recommendations can be made.