Quality of life and emotional distress in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients

: Cardiovascular disease-associated morbidity and mortality are reportedly higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients compared with peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, few studies have estimated changes in state of depression and cognitive impairment in patients undergoing HD and PD. The present study evaluated the impact of HD or PD on patients' quality of life (QoL), cognitive impairment, and depression status over 2 years. This 24-month observational, prospective study included 45 HD and 30 PD patients. Patients were assessed before and every 12 months after starting dialysis for 24 months. Measurements included QoL (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]), cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]), depressive state (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]), grip strength, and 24-h urine volume (UV). Physical and social component scores of the SF-36 significantly improved in PD patients at 24 months compared with those observed at baseline (42.8 vs. 39.4; P < 0.05 and 46.4 vs. 37.3; P < 0.05, respectively); however, scores remained unchanged in HD patients. MMSE scores were significantly decreased at 12 and 24 months in HD patients (29.0 vs. 26.0, 25.0; P < 0.05), but remained unchanged in PD patients. Moreover, CES-D scores significantly worsened at 24 months in HD patients (12.8 vs. 16.5), but remained unchanged in PD. Preservation of UV and grip strength was associated with SF-36, CES-D, and MMSE scores. Our findings indicate that PD is associated with higher QoL and recovery from cognitive failure compared with HD.