Religious beliefs and quality of life in an American inner-city haemodialysis population.
BACKGROUND
The ability to adapt to the long-term aspects of chronic haemodialysis is multifactorial and poorly understood. Given the many comorbidities of a patient on haemodialysis, religious beliefs may be an important factor in the patient's ability to cope.


METHODS
End-stage renal disease patients in an inner-city American in-center haemodialysis unit were given two surveys to quantify their quality of life (KDQOL) and beliefs (Royal Free Score). The population studied included 97% African Americans. The demographics were collected and recorded. The relationship between religious/spiritual beliefs, demographic variables, and how quality of life (QOL) is viewed was analysed.


RESULTS
The vast majority of patients considered themselves religious, spiritual or both. KDQOL scores did not correlate with belief in a higher power, but the non-religious group demonstrated a significantly lower blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine as compared with the religious group. There was a negative correlation with age and physical function as reported by KDQOL and physical health composite.


CONCLUSIONS
As physical function declines, religious and spiritual beliefs are stronger in the haemodialysis population studied. Given the overwhelming prevalence of religious and spiritual beliefs in this population, further study is needed as acknowledging and incorporating these beliefs into patient treatment plans may be warranted.
Ko
Benjamin
B
Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL, USA.
Khurana
Amandeep
A
Spencer
Judy
J
Scott
Barb
B
Hahn
Marsha
M
Hammes
Mary
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D029181:Spirituality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States