IMPACT OF MICROBIOME COMPOSITION ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic inflammation is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in patients with kidney failure undergoing kidney replacement therapy.
• Alterations in the gut microbiome (gut dysbiosis) are prevalent in chronic kidney disease and contribute to systemic inflammation, impacting patients' quality of life.
• Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is multifactorial, with limited attention paid to the gut microbiome's influence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of correcting intestinal microflora on the quality of life in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
• To explore the relationship between gut dysbiosis and quality of life in patients with kidney failure.
• To assess the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in improving HRQOL in HD patients.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 33 hemodialysis patients (age 18-75) from a clinical nephrology center.
• Data collection using a specially designed questionnaire and the Missoula VITAS Quality of Life index.
• Analysis of fecal samples before and after a 12-week probiotic treatment (L. acidophilus, B. longum, S. Thermophilus).

Main Results:

• Significant alterations in colonic microbial composition were observed in hemodialysis patients.
• A strong correlation was found between gut dysbiosis and the quality of life in HD patients.
• Long-term probiotic intervention (≥12 weeks) demonstrated improvement in the quality of life for these patients.

Conclusions:

• Gut dysbiosis is closely associated with reduced quality of life in hemodialysis patients.
• Correction of intestinal flora using specific probiotics can significantly enhance the quality of life in HD patients.
• Targeting the gut microbiome represents a promising therapeutic strategy for improving HRQOL in kidney failure populations undergoing KRT.