Erythropoietin treatment improves quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

The influence of anemia on quality of life was investigated in 11 hemodialysis patients (three male, eight female, mean age 37 +/- 13 years) undergoing erythropoietin (EPO) therapy. This was done using coded self-report questionnaires given to the patients prior to EPO therapy (mean hemoglobin 75 +/- 12 g/l) and again when the target hemoglobin value of 100 g/l was reached (1-5 months). The questionnaire included 93 multiple choice questions to measure physical, social and emotional wellbeing. As expected physical wellbeing improved (p less than 0.05). In addition a significant improvement was seen in social and emotional wellbeing (p less than 0.05). The greatest improvements were seen in health satisfaction (p less than 0.01), physical activity of daily life (p less than 0.05) and emotional wellbeing (p less than 0.05).