title: Health-related quality of life in a sample of Iranian patients on hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of Iranian patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The data were compared with the HRQOL for the Iranian general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred and fifty patients undergoing hemodialysis were included using a convenience sampling approach in a cross-sectional study. Data collection was performed using a Persian translation of the Short Form-36 questionnaire in combination with demographic and clinically related questions. The collected data were analyzed using a logistic regression model with physical and mental summary scales as dependent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' mean Short Form-36 scores were significantly lower than those obtained for the general population for all scales. Patients with longer duration of being on hemodialysis, poor adherence to treatment, higher body mass index, and comorbidity diseases suffered from a poorer physical health. Poor mental health was associated with a lower level of education, longer duration of hemodialysis, lower economic status, a lower degree of knowledge on disease, and comorbidity diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study affirms the fact that patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from poor HRQOL. In comparison with data from other studies from Asian and European countries, this sample of Iranian patients on hemodialysis had a lower HRQOL, a discrepancy that might be due to differences in life style, socioeconomic status, the general level of education of the patients, as well as physician-patient communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. pakpour_amir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amir H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Pakpour
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saffari
authors.forename: Mir Saeed
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yekaninejad
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molsted
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support