Quality of life and its associated factors in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis from a Peruvian city: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess quality of life and explore its associated factors in a group of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis in Peru.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of patients with CKD treated at two medical centers in Tacna, Peru; between July and September 2023. We conducted a survey via telephone interviews with eligible patients using the Short Form 36 (SF 36) to assess their quality of life.

Results: Of 257 patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis, we successfully interviewed 207 (59.9% males, median age: 62 years, median time on hemodialysis: 3.5 years). In the context of the SF-36 assessment, the dimensions with the lowest scores were physical role (mean: 13.9), emotional role (32.2), and physical function (32.4). Regarding the SF-36 summary scores, the average scores were 42.2 in the mental health domain and 32.0 in the physical health domain. In the adjusted model, the physical health domain score was higher in males (β = 2.7) and those with economic self-sufficiency (β = 3.0) and lower in older adults (β = -2.5). The score in the mental health domain was higher in those with a higher level of education (β = 4.1), in those with economic self-sufficiency (β = 3.8), and in those receiving care at one of the centers included (β: 4.2).

Conclusion: Quality of life was affected, particularly in the realms of physical and emotional well-being. Furthermore, both the physical and mental health domains tend to show lower scores among women, older individuals, those lacking economic self-sufficiency, individuals with lower educational levels, and those with comorbidities.

Fig 1. Flowchart detailing the process of sample selection (N = 207).