Interdialytic Body Weight Gain, Anxiety, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients are at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 and have a high risk of death when infected with COVID-19. During the pandemic, anxiety and fear have escalated, triggering more psychological disorders among hemodialysis patients, leading to depression and decreased quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe interdialytic body weight gain (IDWG), anxiety, fatigue and quality of life in hemodialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was quantitative research with a descriptive approach and a survey design. 74 hemodialysis patients at various hemodialysis clinics in Bandung were recruited using consecutive sampling. The instruments used included the IDWG observation sheet, Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Fatigue Severity Scale, and KDQoL-SF36. Univariate analyses were conducted using frequency distribution. The mean IDWG was 5.35 ± 5.21, and 33 respondents (44%) were in the light category. The mean score for fatigue was 40.37 ± 16.99, and 47 respondents (63%) experienced fatigue. The mean anxiety score was 22.12 ± 10.2, and 30 respondents (40%) were in the deficient category. Meanwhile, the highest average quality of life score was in the SF-12 mental health composite aspect, with 45.39 ± 7.59, and the lowest was in the burden of kidney disease aspect with an average value of 14.42 ± 6.58. Some respondents had mild IDWG, fatigue and anxiety levels, and some respondents had a poor quality of life.
 Keywords: anxiety, fatigue, hemodialysis, IDWG, quality of life