Assessment of health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients with SF-36

Abstract

To assess health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients and to identify related socio-demographic and clinical variables. By a cluster sampling procedure, 181 hemodialysis patients from 4 hemodialysis centers in Hangzhou completed the SF-36 Scales with self-administration. The means and deviations for each of eight scales were calculated, the results in the samples were compared with those in general population. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression were applied to determine the effect of variables such as age, gender, educational level, employment status,marital status, income,sleep, hemodialysis history, hemoglobin, co-existing diseases and so forth, on quality of life in the patients. The scores of the eight scales in the hemodialysis patients were 57.7 +/-18.2, 6.1 +/-16.6, 63.2 +/-17.4, 27.2 +/-12.9, 31.1 +/-17.0, 41.6 +/-14.6, 58.0 +/-45.2 and 65.3 +/-15.5. Except MH, the scores of all the scale in the patients were significantly lower than those in general population. In the multiple linear stepwise regression model of Physical Component Summary,the seven variables of age, sleep, hemoglobin, skeletal-muscle diseases, married status, diabetes mellitus and cardiopathy were included (P<0.01), while in that of Mental Component Summary, the three variables of age, sleep and hemoglobin were included (P<0.01). The quality of life in hemodialysis patients is impaired. Greater attention should be given to interventions that could improve quality of life.