Somatopsychic correlates and quality of life of the dialyzed patient: a cross-sectional study

C De Pasquale; M L Pistorio; I Lauretta; P Fatuzzo; M Fornaro; D Conti; S Di Nuovo; N Sinagra; A Giaquinta; D Zerbo; M Veroux

doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.07.026

Somatopsychic correlates and quality of life of the dialyzed patient: a cross-sectional study

Transplant Proc. 2014 Sep;46(7):2199-202. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.07.026.

Authors

C De Pasquale¹, M L Pistorio², I Lauretta³, P Fatuzzo⁴, M Fornaro⁵, D Conti⁵, S Di Nuovo⁵, N Sinagra⁶, A Giaquinta⁶, D Zerbo⁶, M Veroux⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Formative Science, University of Catania, Italy; Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Italy. Electronic address: depasqua@unict.it.
² Department of Formative Science, University of Catania, Italy; Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Italy.
³ Department of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, University of Catania, Italy.
⁵ Department of Formative Science, University of Catania, Italy.
⁶ Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Italy.

PMID: 25242750
DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.07.026

Abstract

Background: The dialysis delivered after a chronic kidney disease (CDK) or any otherwise severe end-stage renal failure is a complex medical task, leading to major medical and psychopathological distress for the patient. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of the dialysis experience on the nephrologic patient's global quality of life.

Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, involving 96 patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis, demographic, medical, and psychological differential features across different CDK diagnoses were accounted and were then correlated each other.

Results: Among other differential features, the "acknowledgement of dependence" (from the medical device delivering the dialysis) emerged as a factor correlated to "self-sufficiency" in CDK patients receiving hemodialysis.

Conclusions: Although further, larger-sampled studies on the topic are needed, medical and psychological interventions are useful to ensure a better global quality of life and good therapeutic adherence in dialysis patients.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic / psychology*
Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life*
Renal Dialysis / psychology*