Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39095515›Full record

SynthesisPediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany)2025

A systematic review of symptoms experienced by children and young people with kidney failure.

Zoe Jacob, Lucy Plumb, Louise Oni, Siona Mitra, Ben Reynolds

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Assessment of Eotaxin Concentration in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Zoe JacobDept. of Medical Paediatrics, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, UK. zoe.jacob@nhs.scot.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-2383-4060
Lucy PlumbRenal Dept., Bristol Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK.
Louise OniDept. of Women and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Siona MitraSchool of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Ben ReynoldsDept. of Paediatric Nephrology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKidney failure at any age has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL) but the overall symptom burden for children and young people (CYP) is poorly described. Kidney failure has no cure and whilst transplantation is the preferred management option, it is not always possible, with patients requiring supportive care at the end of their lives.

aimTo use the literature to understand the symptom burden for CYP with kidney failure who are approaching end-of-life.

methodsUsing three databases, a systematic literature review was performed to identify eligible studies to extract data on symptoms experienced in CYP aged < 21 years with kidney failure. Data extraction was completed by two authors using a pre-designed proforma. Study quality assessment was undertaken using the BMJ AXIS tool.

resultsA total of 20,003 titles were screened to yielding 35 eligible studies including 2,862 CYP with chronic kidney disease (CKD), of whom 1,624 (57%) had CKD stage 5. The studies included a median of 30 (range 7-241) patients. Symptoms were subcategorised into eight groups: sleep, mental health, gastrointestinal, dermatology, ear, nose and throat (ENT), neurology, multiple symptoms, and ophthalmology. The prevalences of the most commonly reported symptoms were: restless leg syndrome 16.7-45%, sleep disordered breathing 20-46%, hypersomnia 14.3-60%, depression 12.5-67%, anxiety 5.3-34%, overall gastrointestinal symptoms 43-82.6%, nausea and vomiting 15.8-68.4%, abdominal pain 10.5-67.4%, altered appetite or anorexia 19-90%, xerosis 53.5-100%, pruritis 18.6-69%, headache 24-76.2% and ophthalmological symptoms 26%. Within each subgroup, the symptom definitions used were heterogeneous, the methods of assessment were varied and some symptoms, such as pain and constipation, were poorly represented.

conclusionsThere is a marked lack of evidence relating to the symptom burden for CYP with CKD. This study highlights the high symptom prevalence, particularly in relation to sleep, mental health, headache, dermatological and gastrointestinal symptoms. There is a need for consensus recommendations on the evaluation and management of symptoms for CYP with CKD approaching end-of-life. PROSPERO ID: CRD42022346120.

Indexed as

Quality of LifeAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolHumansKidney Failure, ChronicRenal InsufficiencyYoung AdultAdolescentsConservative careEnd-of-lifeHealth-related quality of lifePaediatricsPalliative careSymptom burden

Identifiers

PMID39095515

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.