title: Fatigue in hemodialysis patients: a review of current knowledge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-stage renal disease is a common chronic illness increasing in incidence and prevalence. Although kidney function is partially replaced through dialysis, patients endure many symptoms of the disease such as fatigue. Many factors have been studied regarding their relationship with fatigue in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a state of the science review regarding fatigue in hemodialysis patients by examining the experience of fatigue for patients on hemodialysis and correlates of fatigue in patients on hemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and Sociological Abstracts were searched using the key terms "fatigue," "dialysis," and "hemodialysis." Articles written after 1980 and those with explicit findings related to fatigue were included in this review. Articles that discussed fatigue in peritoneal dialysis patients or renal transplant patients were not included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is little knowledge regarding the experience of fatigue for patients on hemodialysis and there has been little success identifying demographic, psychosocial, or physiological factors that are consistently related to fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further work in this area of inquiry would be of benefit and may shed light on the domains of life that are affected by fatigue for hemodialysis patients. It also may help deepen our knowledge regarding correlates that could identify hemodialysis patients who are at increased risk for fatigue.
authors: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC 27710, USA. ah40@duke.edu
authors: Ann E
authors: AE
authors: Horigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult