Quality of life and hemodialytical treatment: renal insufficiency patient evaluation

Abstract

The different claims of chronic renal failure patients under hemodialytical treatment about daily life alterations motivated questioning about what had been modified and influenced their quality of life after the treatment. The present study main objective was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with chronic renal failure under hemodialytical treatment, using an instrument called Kidney Disease and Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF). Seventy two patients from a hemodialytical center in Goiânia - Brazil were interviewed between april and may 2005, and male predominance had been showed with 52.8%. The mean age of patients was 51.1 ± 16.6 years. Results demonstrated that patient’s quality of life was prejudiced in some aspects. The highest values were obtained in the dimensions Dialysis Staff Encouragement (88.37), Quality of Social Interaction (80.83) and Cognitive Function (80.74). The Dimensions Physical Role and Work Status had the lowest scores (20.49 and 22.2 respectively). The population perception was influenced by religious choices, gender, years of study, advanced age, time of treatment, family support and by work status. We concluded that people under hemodialytical treatment suffer many alterations in their quality of life, showed by the lowest scores that indicate which aspects need more professional attention.