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Caregiver burden in pediatric acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease

Pediatric Research (2024)Cite this article

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is an effective modality for treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in pediatric populations. Improvements in technology, clinical skills, and management options have allowed for increased viability and usage of dialysis in the pediatric population prior to transplantation. In the United States, the incidence rate of end stage renal disease (ESRD) has decreased from 13 per million population (pmp) in 2010 to 11 pmp in 2020, though the adjusted incidence and prevalence of renal failure in pediatric patients (<18 years) remains significant at 11 and 76 per million age-related population (pmarp).1

Advances in technology have allowed for increased flexibility in treatment and for the ability for patients to utilize home-based care provided largely by family caregivers vs. a hospital setting. Caregivers of children on RRT carry a significant burden to become healthcare providers in order to manage strict dietary and fluid limitations and administer medication as well as carrying the emotional toll of caring for a chronically ill child. The World Federation of Mental Health emphasizes the necessity of providing psychological assistance to caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses, as these individuals are more susceptible to experiencing compromised health, increased incidence of chronic illnesses, diminished immune function, and elevated levels of exhaustion.2 Better understanding of the caregiver experience will allow for better care of this unique population.

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Fig. 1: Common causes of caregiver burnout.
Fig. 2: Common experiences among caregivers of pediatric dialysis caregivers.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Rupesh Raina, Archana Myneni.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, OH, USA

    Rupesh Raina

  2. Department of Nephrology, Akron Nephrology Associates/Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH, USA

    Rupesh Raina & Archana Myneni

  3. Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Medanta, The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

    Sidharth K. Sethi

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  1. Rupesh Raina
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  2. Archana Myneni
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  3. Sidharth K. Sethi
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A.M. contributed to writing original draft. R.R. and S.S. contributed to supervision. All authors contributed to conceptualization, reviewing and editing the paper.

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Correspondence to Rupesh Raina.

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Raina, R., Myneni, A. & Sethi, S.K. Caregiver burden in pediatric acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Pediatr Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03198-0

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