Strategies for assessing the symptom of fatigue in people with chronic kidney disease: systematic review

Background: The evaluation of fatigue symptom in people with chronic kidney disease has been a challenge for nursing because it is a subjective symptom and associated with other comorbidities. Aim: To analyze the scientific evidence on the prevalence, predictive factors and strategies for the assessment of fatigue symptoms in people with chronic kidney disease. Method: Systematic literature review study conducted in three databases (PubMed / MEDLINE, BIREME and LILACS) using the descriptors "Renal Insufficiency, Chronic", "Fatigue" and the levels of evidence of the studies were verified. For data analysis we used an item evaluation instrument and descriptive analysis. Results: Inclusion criteria were 36 studies that assessed the prevalence of fatigue in 7,587 people with chronic kidney disease in 15 countries in four-continents; predictive factors were individual, psychosocial, clinical and comorbidities; the evaluation strategies included 40 instruments, sociodemographic and clinical information. As for the level of evidence, studies focus on levels three and four. Final considerations: Prevalence and predictive factors can be managed using valid assessment strategies to assess the symptom of fatigue in people with chronic kidney disease, as well as with reliable interventions such as nutritional supplementation, hypnosis, acupuncture, intradialitic leg ergometry and social support, which can be adopted by nursing in nephrology units to promote a reduction in the prevalence of fatigue symptoms.