Quality of Life and Influencing Factors in Hemodialysis and CAPD Patients

In this study we compared hemodialysis patients with CAPD patients in view of quality of life and investigated influencing factors.

Seventy-two hemodialysis (HD) (39 male, 33 female) and 60 CAPD (32 male, 28 female) patients were included in the study. Mean age of the patients were 46.5±17.3 and 47.5±13.9 years, respectively. They were dialysed for at least 6 months. All patients were free from severe hypertension and congestive heart failure. SF-36 test was applied to the patients to evaluate quality of life. Mean physical and mental component scores were calculated. There was no difference between HD and CAPD patients in age, dialysis duration, diabetic patient ratio, hemoglobin level and EPO usage ratio. Serum albumin level was higher in HD patients (4.1±0.3 and 3.9±0.49, respectively; p=0.008).

Physical component score was significantly higher in HD patients (p=0.041). Mean mental component score was 5 points higher, but the difference was not significant.

Physical and mental component scores were positively correlated to albumin level, having a job and better education level but not to age, gender, marriage status and hemoglobin level in HD patients. In CAPD patients only age was negatively correlated to physical and mental conponent scores.

As a conclusion, physical component score of HD patients is higher than those of CAPD patients and mental component scores were determined similarly in two groups. Better educational level, having a job and higher serum albumin levels positively influence the quality of life especially in HD patients.