[Quality of life patterns of dialysed patients in the region of Kairouan].

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that the prognosis of the end-stage renal diseases have been changed after the introduction of dialysis modalities (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis). Technical progress, have increased life duration of these patients; however, some health concerns persist to be frequent, such as physical alteration and psychological disturbances.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the patients' quality of life of those who are treated by haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in Kairouan Gouvernorate.

METHODS: It is a descriptive study that included the whole 134 dialysed patients who are taken care of in the four dialysis unites using the KQQOL-SF questionnaire for quality of life assessment.

RESULTS: Demographic characteristics showed that 71% of the study population were illetrate, and 50% were jobless. The mean distance of home-dialysis unit was 47 km and the mean duration of dialysis care was 27 months. Therefore, 36.2% of patients have been dialysed twice a week and 87.1% were aneamic. The mean quality of life score was 55.1. With reference to Lean standard value of 66.7 on the SF-36 scale, a deterioration of the quality of life was found in 75.2% of cases. Disorders were noted more deeply in the physical component (49.2 +/- 16.4) than on mental component (60.9 +/- 10.3). The mean of renal component score was 62.7 +/- 12.9. Statistical analysis found that quality of life alteration was correlated to the following: female patients, elderly people, low socioeconomic status, presence of comorbidity, aneamia, and low rate of albuminemia.

CONCLUSION: The results could be used as a needs assessment study in order to improve the quality of life of dialysed patients. This needs the implementation of a quality improvement programme that should include the biological and psychosocial aspects in dialysis care.