Clinical and laboratory variables associated with quality of life in Brazilian haemodialysis patients: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND

Amongst chronic diseases, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) deserves special attention in the context of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). ESRD affects quality of life more intensely than heart failure, diabetes, chronic lung disease, arthritis and cancer In addition, patients who perceive low HRQOL withdraw from dialysis treatment more commonly

AIM

To identify clinical and laboratory variables associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 174 chronic HD patients from a single unit aged 18 years and older who never received a kidney allograft and survived the first three months of treatment. We used the Khan index to assess comorbidity and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) to measure HRQOL.

RESULT

Amongst the eight domains of HRQOL, physical role had the lowest score (35.0+/-43.0) and social function the highest (64.3+/-27.7). In the multivariate analysis, age was associated with seven of eight domains, excepting bodily pain. Albumin was associated with five of eight domains. Time on dialysis, hemoglobin and calcium-phosphorus product were associated with physical function, bodily pain and vitality, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Age and albumin were the main variables associated with quality life, and the calcium-phosphorus product was associated with a strategic domain: vitality. Attention to albumin and ageing effects, control of the calcium-phosphorus product and improvement of physical conditioning are necessary to achieve better HRQOL.