Influences on quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) influences the morbidity and mortality in End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients on dialysis. Identification of the factors that influence QoL in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis can help in their management to improve the QoL and outcomes for these patients.Aim of the study: This study was carried out to determine the factors that could predict QoL scores among ESKD patients on peritoneal dialysis.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hemodialysis Units of King Khalid University, King Saud University, and Security Forces Hospitals, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 100 peritoneal dialysis patients filled the SF-36 questionnaire form covering 6 domains of QoL, and overall general health. Data analysis was done in terms of scores from 0-100 in each domain. Higher scores indicate better QoL.Results: The study included 43 males and 57 females. Mean age was 57.0±13.5 years. The duration of dialysis was 34.1 ±26.9 months. The QoL scores [mean(SD)] were as follows: general health 58.0(9.8), physical role 47.7(23.6), emotional role 61.9(13.5), social function 68(175), illness impact 63.9(95), and medical and financial satisfaction 68.4(13), with a total of 61.3(12.4). QoL scores had a statistically significantly decreasing trend with increasing age (p=0.001). Unemployed and illiterate patients had lower QoL scores (p=0.03 and p=0.00l). No statistically significant relationship could be revealed between QoL score and the duration of dialysis.Conclusion: The QoL of peritoneal dialysis patients is negatively related to age and is affected by educational level and job status. Special care and support is needed for these patients to ameliorate their QoL, and improve their outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]