An active research program focusing on improving quality of life and rehabilitation of persons with chronic renal failure has been ongoing since the late 1970s. Emory is the site of the Quality of Life/Rehabilitation Special Studies Center (SSC) of the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), under a contract with the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The Emory SSC is one of four centers in the United States that has been established by NIDDK to conduct studies in a designated focus area while collaborating with the USRDS national renal patient registry.

In addition to USRDS SSC studies of renal rehabilitation and quality of life, investigator-initiated quality of life research focuses on persons with aging-related impairments, including falls and frailty, stroke, and cognitive impairment.

Recent Publications:

Kutner NG, Barnhart H, Wolf SL, McNeely E, Xu T. Self report benefits of Tai Chi practice by older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences 1997;52B:P242-246.

Kutner NG, Mistretta EF, Barnhart HX, Fielding B. Family members? perceptions of quality of life change in dementia SCU residents. Journal of Applied Gerontology 18: 423-439, 1999.

Kutner NG, Brogan D, Hall WD, Haber M, Daniels DS. Functional impairment, depression and life
satisfaction among older hemodialysis patients and age-matched controls: A prospective study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 18: 453-459, 2000.

Kutner NG, Zhang R, McClellan WM. Patient-reported quality of life early in dialysis treatment: Effects associated with usual exercise activity. Nephrology Nursing Journal 27: 357-367, 2000.

Kutner NG, Bliwise DL, Brogan D, Zhang R. Race and restless sleep complaint in older chronic dialysis patients and non-dialysis community controls. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences 56B:P170-P175, 2001.

Kutner NG, Jassal SV. Quality of life and rehabilitation of elderly dialysis patients. Seminars in Dialysis 15(3):107-112, 2002.