Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients Waiting for Kidney Transplantation

Abstract

Introduction

There are few data about the quality of life (QOL) level among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and eligible for kidney transplantation.

Aim

to investigate the quality of life of patients on hemodialysis waiting for kidney transplantation.

Methods

76 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing HD included, that were in this moment (February 2014) on dialysis in Military Medical Academy. The QOL level was compared between HD patients waiting (N=22) and not waiting (N=54) for kidney transplantation. All patients are older than 18 years, have been on HD at least three months. To measure QOL, the SF-36 was used.

Results

Patients waiting kidney transplantation are younger (42.68±12.10 versus 63.17±14.06 years old; p<0.005) and most of them are single (50% versus 9.7%; p<0.001). They less often have diabetes (0% versus13.0 %), hypertension (4.5 versus18.5%) and obstructive uropathy (4.5 % versus13.0%). Mean scores were higher among patients waiting kidney transplantation regarding four dimensions of QOL: PF (Physical Function) (83.8 versus66.9; p>0.001), RP (Role Physical) (58.8 versus 46.8; p>0.1), BP (Bodily Pain) (73.2 versus 60.4; p>0.05); SF (Social Functioning) (96.5 versus77.7; p>0.001. Patients waiting kidney transplantation have higher mean PCS (Physical Component Summary) (p>0.001) and MCS (Mental Component Summary) (p>0.005) scores than patients not waiting transplantation.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing HD and not waiting kidney transplantation are at risk of poor QOL level, mainly regarding role-emotional and role-physical aspects. We recommend psychological ap-proach and physical rehabilitation for those groups of patients.