Quality of life and nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study from Palestine

Abstract

Abstract Background End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Protein malnutrition is common among patients with ESRD. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) offers greater lifestyle flexibility and independence compared to the widely used treatments for ESRD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and the quality of life (QOL) along with the factors influencing these two outcomes among Palestinian patients undergoing PD. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study on patients receiving PD at Najah Hospital University, Palestine. Malnutrition was assessed by the malnutrition-inflammation scale (MIS) and the QOL score was evaluated by using the Dutch WHOQOL-OLD module. Results A total of 74 patients on PD were included with the mean age of participants was 50.5 ± 16.38, more than half of them were females. We observed a significant association between the MIS and the WHOQOL-OLD scores (p < 0.001). Malnutrition was associated with a lower QOL score among patients receiving PD. Younger age group and those with an occupation had better chances of a good QOL (p = 0.01). Patients with pitting edema and diabetes had higher risk of a lower QOL (p < 0.001). Conclusions Elderly patients, patients showing signs of pitting edema, and those suffering from diabetes should be carefully considered due to their higher risk of malnutrition and low QOL.