LUMIDIAL: feasibility of light therapy in hemodialysis, pilot study and real-life experience

Sleep and mood disorders are common in hemodialysis, but the effect of light therapy remains unknown in this population.

We conducted a randomized, controlled, open-label pilot trial comparing two group of either 30 minutes of light therapy three times a week, or no exposure. The primary endpoint was change in sleep quality (PSQI) after five weeks of light therapy, with change in mood (DASS-21) as a secondary endpoint. We added the description of the same criteria in a prospective, non-randomized, real-life post-trial cohort.

We included 28 analyzable patients in the pilot study. Light therapy had no significant effect on PSQI reduction (p = 0.496). There was a trend towards a reduction in depression (-6.2 [95% CI, -12.5 to -0.05], p = 0.058). In the real-life cohort, out of 27 patients, 12 had a significant reduction in depression score (≥ 6 points).

Light therapy performed in hemodialysis three times a week appears to have no effect on sleep quality, but could reduce depressive states. The technique is easy to implement, well tolerated and inexpensive. A multicenter randomized trial against the sham device will be needed to validate its effect on depression.