Insomnia, muscular cramps and pruritus have low intensity in hemodialysis patients with good dialysis efficiency, low inflammation and arteriovenous fistula.

INTRODUCTION: Insomnia, muscular cramps, pruritus and postdialysis recovery time (RT) are quality-of-life parameters that affect hemodialysis (HD) patients physically and mentally.
METHODS: We included 171 end-stage renal disease patients: 115 on high-flux HD and 56 on online hemodiafiltration (HDF). Patients were asked "How long does it take you to recover from a dialysis session?" and they evaluated intensity (absent, mild, medium and severe) of insomnia, muscular cramps and pruritus in the past 4 weeks. We sought associations of RT, insomnia, muscular cramps and pruritus with themselves and age, dialysis vintage, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), Daugirdas single-pool Kt/V (Kt/V), ultrafiltration volume, blood processed volume and vascular access type.
RESULTS: Insomnia absence correlated with muscular cramps absence (p = 0.01), arteriovenous fistula (AVF) presence (p = 0.02) and lower CRP (p = 0.003). Muscular cramps absence associated pruritus absence (p = 0.007) and AVF (p = 0.001). Absent pruritus patients were younger (p = 0.04), had higher Kt/V (p = 0.01) and more AVF (p = 0.02). Men insomnia was more severe in HD than HDF and albumin related (p = 0.007), while CRP was lower in absent pruritus. Women insomnia associated with muscular cramps (p = 0.04) and vascular access (p = 0.03), as was pruritus (p = 0.03). RT had no relations with any parameter.
CONCLUSIONS: HD patients with AVF have less insomnia, muscular cramps and pruritus. Insomnia is associated with muscular cramps and inflammation. Pruritus is worse in older patients, is diminished with increased dialysis efficiency and is associated with higher CRP in men. There is no difference between HD and HDF patients, except more severe insomnia for HD in men.