Grant: CIHR-ICRH Travel Awards - General pool

Kidney disease is a global epidemic, affecting 1 in 10 Canadians, a number that has increased on average 1.6% annually. The care of individuals living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including hemodialysis, is a one-size-fits-all approach to care that does not account for sex and gendered factors. This approach to care may underestimate hemodialysis adequacy in females and in turn exacerbate poor outcomes, such as increased risk of death and decreased quality of life compared to males. For example, women with kidney failure treated with hemodialysis (HD) report lower quality of life (QoL) compared to men. Decreasing HD frequency is a potential strategy to improve QoL but may result in undertreatment of females compared to males due to biological differences in body water distribution. The role of sex (biological) and gender (sociocultural) play in patient outcomes, including quality of life, are not well understood. A quality of life survey was administered to patients starting HD across Alberta along with a gender survey to understand how sex and gender may influence this important patient outcome. This project will provide an improved understanding of sex and gender differences, inform precision medicine, and promote outcomes for individuals living with CKD.