title: Factors associated with the quality of life of incident patients on PD in Brazil (BRAZPD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Brazil is significant, with a higher prevalence of diabetic and elderly individuals on PD than on hemodialysis. These data point to a selection bias in that population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients starting PD in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study assessed 6,198 patients participating in a multicenter prospective cohort study, using data from BRAZPD. The QOL was assessed by use of the Karnofsky index (QOL assessment by health professionals) and the SF-36 (patient's self-assessment) in 1,624 incident patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients analyzed, 40% were diabetic and 47% were elderly (over the age of 60 years). Patients had low QOL scores in all the SF-36 domains, the "physical role" domain being the most affected and the "social functioning" domain having the best score. On the other hand, according to the Karnofsky index, most patients had high QOL scores. Elderly and diabetic patients had lower QOL as compared with non-elderly and non-diabetic by using both the SF-36 and Karnofsky index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall evaluation by use of the SF-36 showed a reduction in the QOL. The Karnofsky index showed a better QOL as compared with the SF-36 assessment, but similar results were found in the subgroups evaluated: the ederly and the diabetic patients had the worst QOL in both assessments.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Group of Study and Research in Nephrology, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil. fabpsic@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Fabiane Rossi dos Santos
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Grincenkov
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaoubah
authors.forename: Kleyton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Abdul Rashid
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pécoits-Filho
authors.forename: José Carolino
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Divino Filho
authors.forename: Marcus Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life