Psychosocial quality of life of elderly hemodialysis patients using visual analog scale: Comparison with healthy elderly in Japan

Abstract Background The number of elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients is increasing in Japan, and the psychosocial impact of HD to the elderly remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of life (QOL) of elderly patients undergoing regular HD. Methods We examined the psychosocial status in elderly HD patients and compared it with that in healthy elderly individuals. The correlations between each item of QOL, laboratory data and comorbidities were explored. This study cohort consisted of 142 people (70 healthy elderly participants and 72 elderly HD patients). We assessed 10 items of QOL, i.e., health condition, appetite, sleep, mood, memory, family relationship, friendship, economical status, satisfaction in daily life, and happiness by visual analog scale (VAS). Results Overall, elderly HD patients had lower scores of VAS than healthy elderly participants, especially in sleep, mood, and happiness, but not in family relationship and friendship. Lower VAS scores for sleep were significantly correlated with the duration of HD therapy and the troubles in vascular access for HD. VAS scores for family relationship were also correlated with the duration of HD therapy. Conclusion The QOL of elderly HD patients was poorer than that in healthy elderly individuals, particularly in sleep, mood and happiness. Further study is needed to improve the QOL of elderly HD patients. This is of great importance, since the number of elderly HD patients is estimated to escalate in the future.