Evaluation of functional and mental state and quality of life in chronic haemodialysis patients.

Progressive increase of old patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) with a high mortality and morbidity rate, receiving haemodialysis, increases the impact of psychosocial factors on the outcome. Depression is the most prevalent psychological problem in patients in haemodialysis and is associated with a high mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional (ADL, IADL), mental (MMSE, SDS) state and the Quality of Life (KDQOL) in the chronic haemodialysis patients. Old patients can be successfully treated by haemodialysis and therefore age may never be used as exclusion for initiative haemodialysis. Formal geriatric assessment should be imperative for the older person with end stage renal disease since all elderly patients become dependent. The high prevalence of depression in our haemodialysis population needs further investigation.