Long-term effects on quality of life in haemodialysis patients of correction of anaemia with erythropoietin.

Quality of life assessments were performed in 24 haemodialysis patients (10 males, 14 females, age 45 +/- 15 years) undergoing rHuEpo treatment. The results in the rHuEpo-treated patients were compared with those in eight haemodialysis patients not on rHuEpo and with the results of a nationwide study of dialysis patients in Sweden (carried out before rHuEpo was registered). Survey questionnaires (112 items, divided into three dimensions, i.e. physical, social, and emotional wellbeing) were completed before treatment (Hb 73 +/- 1.1 g/l), when the target Hb value of 10 g/dl was reached (1-7 months) and in 14 patients 1 year after correction of the anaemia. Before treatment, the rHuEpo group had significantly more complaints about poor appetite, fatigue, and irritability than the controls. After the anaemia was corrected, the rHuEpo group had significantly improved physical and emotional wellbeing. The most significant changes occurred in satisfaction with health, physical activities of daily life, and fatigue. Alterations in emotional symptoms, such as depression and apathy, were less pronounced. Only minor changes were observed in their social wellbeing. One year after correction of the anaemia, the improvements in physical and emotional wellbeing were still present in the rHuEpo-treated patients. A positive effect was also noted on hospitalization rate. Scores for the subdimensions of satisfaction with health, sexual adjustment, physical symptoms, and emotional wellbeing improved in the rHuEpo-treated group and reached a level that was the same, or even higher, than the scores in the dialysis patients in the nationwide study. In conclusion, the quality of life improved during rHuEpo treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)