[Spirituality for dialysis patients: should the nephrologist address?]

Studies on the relationship between spirituality and health are increasingly common in the international literature, showing the association of spirituality with lower levels of depression and anxiety, better quality of life, and lower hospitalization and mortality rates.

To evaluate the relationship between spirituality/religiosity and health in dialysis patients.

A literature review was conducted through search in the Scielo, LILACS, Medline, and PsycIN-FO data banks. Articles addressing the association between spirituality/religiosity and health in dialysis patients were selected.

Higher levels of spirituality and religiosity were associated with better quality of life, less depression, greater social support, higher satisfaction with life, and more satisfaction with the nephrologist';s treatment. Similarly, less spiritualized dialysis patients asked more often for supportive therapy, such as orotracheal intubation. Spirituality was a coping factor for the families of dialysis patients. The literature showed no relationship between spirituality and quality of sleep, compliance with treatment, and mortality.

Spirituality and religiosity play an important role for dialysis patients. They are associated with important aspects of the physician-patient relationship, quality of life, and coping. Thus, they should be valued by professionals caring for those patients.