Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life (QOL) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Design: Nutritional status was evaluated using a point system. Subjective dimensions of QOL were measured and employment status noted as an objective QOL indicator. Setting: Two nonprofit, free-standing dialysis units. Patients: 123 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic HD (54 women; 48 patients with diabetes). Intervention: Nonintervention study; anthropometric, biochemical, and subjective visual variables, scores on Ferrans and Powers QOL index, and demographic variables were analyzed. Main Outcome Measure: One-way ANOVA and t test (P < .05) were used to examine relationships between nutritional status and overall perceived QOL, QOL subscales, and selected demographic variables. Results: Nutritional status was moderately or severely deficient in almost half of the patients (44%). Mean overall QOL score (21.7) was comparable to that of the non-ESRD population. Although no relationship was found between nutritional status and perceived QOL, there was a significant positive relationship between nutritional status and employment status that has been previously documented as an objective indicator of QOL in terms of physical function status. Conclusion: Findings of this study corroborate others that suggest that although chronic HD patients have favorable perceptions of their QOL, objective measures reflect a lower level of functioning. The relationship observed in this study between nutritional status and employment status justifies further investigation if QOL is to be enhanced in dialysis patients.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 152-157 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Renal Nutrition |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1996 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:*Director of Nutrition Services, Dialysis Clinic, Inc, Cincinnati, OH. fDirector OfSocial Services, Dialysis Clink, Iru, Cincinnati, OH. #Renal Dietitian, Dialysis Clinic, Inc, Cincinnati, OH. $Renal Dietitian, Dialysis Clinic, Inc, Cincinnati, OH. llA3sociate Profersor, University of Kentucky, College of Social Work, Lexington, KY. Research supported in part by The National Kidney Foundation Council on Renal Nutrition and Council of Nephrology Social Workers and in part by Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Address reprint requextx to Patricia Heacock, Dialyses Cfinrc, Inc, 499 E. McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45206. 0 1996 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. tO51-2276/96/0603-0005%03.00f0
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Nephrology
