[Interpretation of health-related quality of life of patients on replacement therapy in end-stage renal disease].
STATEMENT: Older age is associated with a worse Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The aim of this study is to demonstrate that differences on HRQOL between two groups of patients, defined according to age (< 65 years and > or = 65 years or elderly), change according to the form in which the results are analysed.


METHODS
We evaluated the HRQOL of 170 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 210 transplant patients from Asturias (Spain), using the SF-36 Health Survey. Sociodemographic and clinical data, Karnofsky Scale and a Comorbidity Index were also collected. The raw scores of the SF-36 and the standardised scores according to age and gender were employed.


RESULTS
The majority of elderly patients on hemodialysis lived alone, constituted a smaller percentage on the transplant waiting list, had a lower serum albumin and lower score of the Karnofsky Scale, than patients under 65 years. No differences were found in transplant patients. The raw scores on the SF-36 were less for the elderly patients on hemodialysis and transplant. The raw scores for elderly undergoing hemodialysis were less than those obtained by the general population, and raw scores for elderly transplant patients were similar or slightly greater. The standardized scores of the SF-36 were greater for the elderly in both treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Important differences exist in the evaluation of HRQOL differences between the two groups of age according to the method of analysing the results. The HRQOL of elderly patients is better than that of patients under 65 years of age.
Rebollo
P
P
Departamento de Medicina, Area de Psiquiatría de la Universidad de Oviedo.
González
M P
MP
Bobes
J
J
Saiz
P
P
Ortega
F
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires