Economic Impact on Families With Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Observational Study Economic Impact on Families With Nephrotic Syndrome
Journal of Pediatric Nephrology,
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025),
12 May 2026
https://doi.org/10.22037/jpn.v13i1.48367
Abstract
Background and Aim: Childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) needs long-term
treatment as well as frequent hospitalization. This study aimed to assess the economic impact
on families with childhood INS.
Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted on children aged 1–17 years with INS
in the Department of Pediatric Nephrology from January 2021 to December 2021. Baseline
demographic characteristics including age, gender, type of nephrotic syndrome, duration
of disease and treatment, number of hospitalizations, treatment costs, educational status of
parents, and socio-economic status using modified Kuppuswamy’s socio-economic status
scale 2021 were recorded. The economic impact of nephrotic syndrome on families was
assessed during parental interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 19.
Results: Among the 63 families, most were in the upper-lower economic class (55.6%),
91.8% had to disrupt work, 61.9% had to bear expenses from more than one source, 65.6% in
which one family member needed to take on an additional job, 87.3% had to travel to another
district, 76.2% needed to spend money on accommodation for the accompanying person,
41% of families had to face moderate financial hardship and 14.8% had to face great financial
hardship, 28.15% had to take out a loan. There was no significant difference in the economic
impact on families among various INS subtypes.
Conclusion: Most families disrupted work, spent money from more than one source, had
family members take on additional jobs, faced moderate to great financial hardship, and
needed to take out loans.
- Childhood idiopathic syndrome
- Economic impact
- Family
How to Cite
References
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