Quality of life of dialysis patients in Malaysia

The aims of this retrospective analysis were (i) to examine the trends of quality of life (QoL) scores and (ii) to identify the risk factors for QoL scores among 6908 dialysis patients entering dialysis between 1997 and 2002. The Spitzer QoL Index was the instrument used by the National Renal Registry of Malaysia to assess the QoL amongst dialysis patients. Demographic and biochemical data were analysed to identify risk factors for poor QoL. The median QoL-index score ranged between 9 and 10. Significant risk factors for poor QoL were female gender, age > 40, diabetes, cohort starting dialysis 2001-2002, haemodialysis modality, body mass index < 18.5, albumin < 30g/dL, cholesterol < 3.2 mmol/L, haemoglobin < 10 g/dL, diastolic blood pressure of > 90 mHg, iPTH < 100 pg/ml. The overall QoL of dialysis patients is satisfactory. The negative impact of diabetes and haemodialysis on QoL warrants further evaluation as each factor involves 50% and 90% of our dialysis population.