Factors associated with health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients in a Peruvian hospital: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Health-related quality of life in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis has become a fundamental criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments, promoting the overall well-being of this population. The study aims to identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis in Huancayo, Peru, from September to November 2022. Methods: Observational, descriptive, single-center, cross-sectional study in which sociodemographic data associated with health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients were identified using the SF-36 instrument. Results: The SF-36 questionnaire on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was administered to 88 hemodialysis patients, of whom 68.2% were men, and 87.5% were undergoing outpatient dialysis. The main cause of chronic kidney disease was hypertension, affecting 46.6% of participants. Additionally, 80.7% had been on hemodialysis treatment for less than five years. In the bivariate analysis, significant differences were observed in the vitality dimension concerning educational level (p = 0.011) and sex (p = 0.049). Likewise, there was a significant difference between the average values of the emotional role dimension (p = 0.038) of the SF-36 in the nutritional status levels and a significant difference between the average total scores of the SF-36 in the salary levels (p = 0.048). The multivariate analysis identified correlations between nutritional status and pain; educational level and vitality; nutritional status and physical role; economic income; educational level and social function; and nutritional status and emotional role. Conclusions: Patients on hemodialysis have a total health-related quality of life score ranging from low to moderate (90.8%). The factors associated with a lower quality of life are being male, poor nutrition, low educational level, and a poor emotional state. Early identification of these factors will allow the development of interventions to improve these patients' quality of life. It is crucial to design interventions focused on improving nutrition and preventing mental health disorders, paying special attention to men with low educational levels.