Dialysis Vintage and Symptom Burden in Hemodialysis: A Comprehensive Analysis

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requires lifelong maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), and patients commonly experience a high symptom burden that affects their quality of life. This study explores the impact of dialysis vintage on symptom burden and quality of life in ESRD patients undergoing MHD. Our cross-sectional study of 213 Chinese hemodialysis patients found that symptom burden tended to increase with longer dialysis duration (Dialysis Symptom Index score from < 1 to > 10 years, p = 0.084), while urine output (p = 0.032) and Kt/V (p = 0.004) significantly decreased. Interestingly, quality of life improved across multiple domains as dialysis duration increased, including Kidney Disease Targeted Areas (KDTA) (p = 0.005), Symptom/Problem List (SPL) (p < 0.001), Effects of Kidney Disease (EKD) (p = 0.004), and Burden of Kidney Disease (BKD) (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that longer dialysis is associated with greater symptoms but also notable improvements in certain quality of life aspects. Personalized care is essential to address the evolving needs of long-term MHD patients and enhance their well-being.