Asociación entre el tiempo de hemodiálisis y la calidad de vida en pacientes diagnosticados de insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) en el servicio de hemodiálisis de la Clínica Contigo - Da Vida Norte, Quito

摘要

Hemodialysis prolongs the life of patients with end stage renal disease; however,one has to take into consideration the quality of life of this extended life. In the currentmedical practice the diagnosis and management of chronic illnesses has been a priority,leaving aside the development of tools that could aid patients to cope with theconsequences in their quality of life that the treatments could entail. This is whystudying the quality of life in patients with end stage renal disease is paramount.Patients with end stage renal disease under hemodialysis in the Clínica Contigo – DaVida Norte were selected to fill out the survey Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36(KDQOL-36™). A quantitative, analytic, transversal study was performed in whichdifferent subscales of quality of life were measured and related with time inhemodialysis and comorbidities in the selected population. It was determined that theselected population had the highest score of quality of life in the subscale Symptoms andProblems, while the lowest score of quality of life was present in the subscale Burden ofKidney Disease. No association was found between time in hemodialysis and quality oflife as measured with the KDQOL-36™ survey in the selected population. Women inthe study showed a positive association between time in hemodialyisis and the subscaleEffects of Kidney Disease on Daily Life, and also with the subscale Mental ComponentSummary. Women with comorbidities (diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension) showedto have a lower score of quality of life in these same subscales. The implementation ofpsychological support programs, the generation of support networks, and the training ofall the staff involved in renal replacement therapy, will allow an appropriate integratedmanagement of patients in which the health related quality of life (HRQOL) does not getdeteriorated, but improved. Only a holistic management approach will improve theHRQOL of patients with end stage renal disease.