[Quality of life in artificial kidney therapy]

Object of this research was to collect information on stress factors of different types of renal replacement therapy. In an anonymous questionnaire 164 patients (93 men, 71 women) gave subjective information about their life assessment. 87 had haemodialysis (HD), 10 home HD, 13 received CAPD and 54 were transplanted. The small proportion of early retirement (15 out of 33 pensioners) before the start of renal replacement therapy, despite long-lasting disease underlines personal activity. The start of renal replacement therapy coincides with a marked rise in retirement, which must be seen as justified on medical grounds, 46.3% of patients report feeling better during therapy. Comparing the technical therapies, CAPD influences daily routine to the greatest extent. Our results show that transplant patients do best with respect to full or partial rehabilitation. Therapeutic dependence on technical devices represents a major intrusion into the life of any patient. Patients report a high rate of improvement only after transplantation. A high rate of satisfaction during technical therapy brings up the question of adaptation or repression. Only few patients report a substantial decrease in their standard of living. There was no difference in the results between men and women.