Correlation study on the quality of life in patients with maintenance peritoneal dialysis and their primary caregivers

Abstract

Objective To investigate the quality of life and its related factors in maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD) patients and their primary caregivers; to analyze the correlation of the quality of life MPD patients and their primary caregivers. Methods A total of 92 MPD patients and their primary caregivers were chosen for the study. The patients were performed peritoneal dialysis catheterization in our hospital nephrology from June 2008 to June 2012 and had regularly peritoneal dialysis. General clinical data and questionnaire survey of all patients and primary caregivers were analyzed retrospectively. Results The total score of SF-36 was (86.75±20.76) in MPD patients. There was no significant difference in the scores of SF-36 liking gender or marital status(P>0.05), while there were significant differences in the score of SF-36 such as age, dialysis time, medicare reimbursement and work status(P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age was related factor for the quality of life of MPD patients. The total score of SF-36 was (121.46±18.57) in primary caregivers. There were significant differences in the score of SF-36 in primary caregivers with different gender, age, length of day care, care duration and family/social relations(P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, age and time of day care were related factors for the quality of life in primary caregivers. Correlation analysis showed that the score of SF-36, PCS and MCS in MPD patients were positively correlated with the score of SF-36 and MCS in primary caregivers respectively. Conclusions The quality of life in MPD patients is poor, and age is the main related factor. The quality of life is lower in primary caregivers than in normal people, and gender, age and time of day care are the related factors. The quality of life in MPD patients is positively correlated with the quality of life in primary caregivers. To improve the quality of life in patients, the quality of life in primary caregivers should be improved by varieties of ways. Key words: Maintenance peritoneal dialysis; Primary caregivers; Quality of life; Correlation