Exploration of a reasonable dialysate temperature setting in hemodialysis for patients with hypertension

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effect of 4 different dialysate temperatures on blood pressure during hemodialysis for patients with hypertension.

Methods

Using a self-controlled method, the patients' body temperature was set as T. Accordingly, the dialysate temperature was set as 37 °C, T+0.5 °C, T, and T−0.5 °C. The changes in blood pressure, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and dialysis-induced adverse reactions at the 4 different dialysate temperatures were consistently monitored.

Results

Patients who received hemodialysis with 37 °C and T+0.5 °C dialysate demonstrated an unstable blood pressure and a higher incidence of adverse reactions. Patients who received hemodialysis with T and T−0.5 °C dialysate showed a relatively stable blood pressure, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure during dialysis. In particular, dialysate at T−0.5 °C resulted in the most stable blood pressure, the fewest adverse reactions and the best self-assessed comfort scores (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The dialysate temperature during hemodialysis for patients with hypertension should be set to a temperature based on patients' preoperative body temperate T or 0.5 °C below T. This practice is suggested to enhance the stability of patients' blood pressure and heart rate during hemodialysis, reduce complications and improve patients' tolerance of hemodialysis.