Healthcare utilization, quality of life, and work productivity associated with primary hyperoxaluria: a cross-sectional web-based US survey

Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a family of ultra-rare, autosomal recessive, metabolic disorders associated with frequent kidney stones, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, and serious complications due to systemic oxalosis, resulting in significant morbidity. We investigated the burden of PH among affected patients and caregivers. This cross-sectional, web-based survey was used to quantify the burden of PH, in terms of healthcare resource utilization, health-related quality of life, and work productivity and activity impairment among adults (≥ 18 years) with PH and caregivers of children (≤ 17 years) with PH in the US. Among the 20 respondents, there were 7 adults with PH and 13 caregivers of children with PH. Adherence to hyperhydration was noted as the most, or one of the most, difficult aspects of PH by 56% of respondents. Most patients (95%) had experienced painful kidney stone events, one-third had visited the emergency room, and 29% were hospitalized for complications due to PH. Of the 24% of patients on dialysis, all found the procedure burdensome. Adult patients’ quality of life was negatively affected across several domains. Most respondents (81%) reported that PH had a negative effect on their finances. Employed adult patients and caregivers, and children with PH, had moderate impairment in work productivity, school attendance, and activity. Anxiety about future PH-related sequelae was moderate to high. These findings highlight the need for improvements in PH medical management. A plain language summary is available in the supplementary information.