Pain, quality of life, work ability and psychosocial well-being in living kidney donors: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition characterized by structural and functional impairments in the kidneys, affecting around 10-15% of the global population. Kidney transplantation from living donors is regarded as the most effective treatment for CKD. Little is known about the consequences in kidney donors in term of quality of life, work ability and overall health status, including pain syndromes developing. This may drive intervention to support donors and promoting their engagement. AIMS: This scoping review evaluates the quality of life (QoL), pain syndromes occurrence, mental health and work ability of adult living kidney donors. METHODS: A scoping review was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases between April and September 2023. The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, incorporated guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), and reported to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The protocol for this review was registered on the Open Science Framework. Risk of bias and study quality were assessed using JBI checklists. RESULTS: Starting from the analysis of 5069 records, 10 studies were included in the present study. The results show scanty data about the issues. The occurrence of medium and high intensity pain after surgery is reported; mental health seems to be moderately compromised and related to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Of interest, QoL seems to be overall improved after the kidney donation, suggesting a phase of adaptation following the surgery. No data are available on the work ability changes after donation. CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes the presence of positive effects of kidney donation in living donors and, on the other hand the need of improving pain management and mental health support in the first time after surgery. The information about the consequences of kidney donation on work ability is completely lacking. This could be relevant to be known for new potential donors. It also advocates for continued interdisciplinary research for developing evidence-based care strategies to promote donors' multifaceted well-being.