Factors Associated With Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Stavros Tsirigotis,Victoria Alikari,Georgios I Panoutsopoulos,Maria Polikandrioti,Georgia Gerogianni,Evangelos Dousis,Ioannis Koutelekos,Georgia Toulia,Dionyssios Leftheriotis,Niki Pavlatou

doi:10.7759/cureus.22994

Abstract

Background and objectiveFatigue is frequently experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis and it has a negative effect on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis.MethodsIn this quantitative cross-sectional study, 100 patients on hemodialysis participated. Fatigue was evaluated via the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Participants also completed a questionnaire about demographics and clinical characteristics. The Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's rho criterion were used to assess the association between fatigue score and patient characteristics. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the effect of the characteristics on patients' fatigue.ResultsStatistically significant high levels of physical or mental fatigue were found in older patients (p=0.001 and p=0.001), divorced/widowed patients (p=0.001 and p=0.014), those who had children (p=0.019), those who had primary education (p=0.015), those who were not informed about their health problems (p=0.003 and p=0.006), those who had comorbid diseases (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who believed that regular information did not help to reduce stress (p=0.005 and p=0.004), patients who had insomnia (p=0.001 and p=0.001), patients who felt tired after hemodialysis (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who thought they had a change in body image (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who often felt stiffness (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who sometimes felt nausea (p=0.015 and p=0.038), and those who had limitations in the clothes they could wear (p=0.001 and p=0.001).ConclusionsThe findings of this study showed that physical or mental fatigue had a strong association with advanced age, comorbidities, marital status, level of education, inadequate information about the disease, insomnia, and change in body appearance. Hence, renal professionals need to properly educate dialysis patients on the complicated nature of fatigue in order to manage it effectively and improve their physical, cognitive, and social wellbeing.

Highlights

Fatigue is commonly experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis and has a negative effect on their quality of life [1]
Significant high levels of physical or mental fatigue were found in older patients (p=0.001 and p=0.001), divorced/widowed patients (p=0.001 and p=0.014), those who had children (p=0.019), those who had primary education (p=0.015), those who were not informed about their health problems (p=0.003 and p=0.006), those who had comorbid diseases (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who believed that regular information did not help to reduce stress (p=0.005 and p=0.004), patients who had insomnia (p=0.001 and p=0.001), patients who felt tired after hemodialysis (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who thought they had a change in body image (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who often felt stiffness (p=0.001 and p=0.001), those who sometimes felt nausea (p=0.015 and p=0.038), and those who had limitations in the clothes they could wear (p=0.001 and p=0.001)
The findings of this study showed that physical or mental fatigue had a strong association with advanced age, comorbidities, marital status, level of education, inadequate information about the disease, insomnia, and change in body appearance

Summary

Introduction

Fatigue is commonly experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis and has a negative effect on their quality of life [1]. Its prevalence rate ranges from 60-97% among hemodialysis patients [2]. These patients suffer from decreased levels of physical activity, low functional capability, and general muscle weakness, which results in a general feeling of fatigue [3]. Symptoms of fatigue are tiredness, weakness, lack of energy [5,6], declined cognitive function, loss of memory, and poor concentration [7], which make patients unable to participate in daily activities. Fatigue negatively affects their physical, cognitive, and social wellbeing and life satisfaction [2]. Fatigue is frequently experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis and it has a negative effect on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis

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Conclusion