The problem of fatigue in dialysis patients.

137 patients on maintenance dialysis were studied. All but 2 patients were ambulatory, and all patients demonstrated good to normal strength on manual motor tests. With the exception of systemic lupus erythematosus, no correlation was found between primary diagnosis and patients' fatigue ratings. Laboratory studies of hematocrit, BUN, creatinine, calcium, and phosphorus did not correlate with fatigue ratings for the majority of patients. Fatigue appeared more problematic for patients who had been dialyzing for less than 4 years. Depression was pronounced among patients who reported feeling fatigued upon arising.