Quality of life assessment in dialyzed patients in the Cuneo area

The concept of quality of life includes several aspects of physical and psychological status. In a medical setting the evaluation of quality of life comprises physiopathological and clinical aspects as well as patient well-being and functioning. The aims of this study were to carry out an updated evaluation of the health status and quality of life of chronic dialysis patients in a defined geographic area; to obtain data comparable with other studies or other populations; and to identify possible action or interventions. The tool chosen to achieve these aims was the Italian version of SF36. The SF36 survey was filled in and returned by 78% of patients; the mean rate of missing data was 5%. The results showed that physical aspects were the most compromised, whereas the dialyzed patients' mental status was reasonably intact. Peritoneal dialysis patients had better scores than hemodialysis patients. Age and time on dialysis were closely related to quality of life. The obtained data confirm that end-stage renal disease provokes physical invalidity and disability, severely compromising the health and quality of life of patients and their caregivers. The resulting picture describes a dialysis patient mainly affected by physical problems and difficult management of treatment but with a good mental endurance, who is seeking to regain the autonomy lost due to the disease but also the possibility to socialize and exchange experiences with fellow patients.