Distance between residence and the dialysis unit does not impact self-perceived outcomes in hemodialysis patients

Religious wellbeing as a predictor for quality of life in Iranian hemodialysis patients

Aim:

Spiritual well-being is known as a main resource for adjustment and coping when confronted with stressful situations such as managing a chronic disease. The aim of this study is to determine the very relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 95 patients with end-stage renal disease who were referred to main hemodialysis centers were included from December 2012 to June 2013. Data was collected by using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the SF-36 quality of life scale, and the spiritual wellbeing scale. Descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation and logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment.

Results:

The mean age of the patients evaluated was 50.4 (SD=15.72) years of age, and 61.1% of the patients were male. Both religious and existential domains of spiritual wellbeing were associated with bodily pain, vitality, social functioning and mental health (P<0.05). The results of multiple logistic regression showed that religious well-being was associated with better quality of life in both domains of physical (OR=1.17; p=0.01) and mental (OR=1.14; p=0.02) components after controlling for socio-demographic and clinical variables.

Conclusion:

Religious well-being should be considered important predictive factors for the better quality of life in hemodialysis patients. This indicates the need for psychosocial and spiritual supports in the care of these patients.

Depression in hemodialysis patients: the role of dialysis shift

OBJECTIVE

Depression is the most important neuropsychiatric complication in chronic kidney disease because it reduces quality of life and increases mortality. Evidence demonstrating the association between dialysis shift and depression is lacking; thus, obtaining such evidence was the main objective of this study.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included patients attending a hemodialysis program. Depression was diagnosed using Beck's Depression Inventory. Excessive daytime sleepiness was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients were enrolled (55 males, age 48±14 years). Depression and excessive daytime sleepiness were observed in 42.7% and 49% of the patients, respectively. When comparing variables among the three dialysis shifts, there were no differences in age, dialysis vintage, employment status, excessive daytime sleepiness, hemoglobin, phosphorus levels, or albumin levels. Patients in the morning shift were more likely to live in rural areas (p<0.0001), although patients in rural areas did not have a higher prevalence of depression (p = 0.30). Patients with depression were more likely to be dialyzed during the morning shift (p = 0.008). Independent risk factors for depression were age (p<0.03), lower levels of hemoglobin (p<0.01) and phosphorus (p<0.01), and dialysis during the morning shift (p = 0.0009). The hospitalization risk of depressive patients was 4.5 times higher than that of nondepressive patients (p<0.008).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that depression is associated with dialysis shift, higher levels of phosphorus, and lower levels of hemoglobin. The results highlight the need for randomized trials to determine whether this association occurs by chance or whether circadian rhythm disorders may play a role.