Correlation between pain and quality of life of patients under hemodialysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pain symptoms and their influence on quality of life of chronic renal patients submitted to hemodialysis. METHODS: Descriptive, exploratory, comparative and crosssectional study paired by frequency, having as tested group (GI, n=50) chronic renal patients under hemodialysis with hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2, and as control group (GII, n=50) patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2, assisted by the Hypertension Ambulatory. Quality of life was evaluated by the Kidney Disease and Quality of Life ShortForm, pain by the Brief Pain Inventory, emotional factors by Beck anxiety and depression scales and neuropathic pain by DN4 questionnaire. RESULTS: Both groups had predominance of males, mean age of 47.3±16.5 years. With regard to labor, the group under hemodialysis (GI) had 80% of inactive patients. Most impaired quality of life domains were job situation and physical function. There has been prevalence of depression and anxiety, neuropathic pain and more pain complaint in GI, significantly interfering with general activities such as sleep and walking ability. There has been significant correlation (p<0.05) between anxiety, physical function and labor situation versus pain. CONCLUSION: Pain is often ignored, but brings significant consequences to quality of life of patients, contributing for relevant worsening of anxious or depressive symptoms. Thus, it is critical the multidisciplinary management of such patients.