Background
There is inequal access to treatment and scarce evidence on how the disease burden in chronic intestinal failure (CIF) compares to other chronic nonmalignant types of organ failure. Therefore, we compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with CIF with that of people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving hemodialysis (HD). These groups were selected for comparison as they have similar treatment characteristics. We hypothesized that people treated with HD and people with CIF had similarly poor HRQOL.

Methods
HRQOL was evaluated and compared in a cross-sectional study of adult people with CIF and people with ESKD HD at a tertiary hospital in Denmark, using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36).

Results
One hundred forty-one people with CIF and 131 people with ESKD receiving HD were included in the analysis. Both groups reported low scores (<50) for HRQOL on general health, vitality, and role limitation—physical. People with ESKD receiving HD had significantly lower scores than people with CIF regarding physical functioning, general health, and vitality when adjusted for sex and age. No significant difference was found for any other SF-36 domain.

Conclusion
HRQOL was similarly and significantly reduced in people with CIF and in people with ESKD receiving HD. People with ESKD receiving HD had significantly poorer HRQOL than people with CIF in some aspects of physical and mental health. Access to home parenteral support treatment varies among countries that typically provide HD, suggesting an inequality in healthcare based on the type of organ failure.