Therapeutic Education's Role in the Management of Hypertension in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

The prevalence of hypertension remains high in hemodialysis (HD) patients, leading to a considerable morbimortality. The “dry weight method (DW),” established by Scribner, presents an undeniable interest in the management of hypertension in HD patients.Aim. The aim of our work was to determine the prevalence and risk factors (RFs) of hypertension in our chronic HD patients and try to reduce it by using a therapeutic education (TE) strategy based on Scribner’s recommendations.Patients and Methods. We led an interventional prospective study in three phases. In phase 1, we determined the prevalence of hypertension. In phase 2, hypertensive patients benefited of a TE strategy. In phase 3, we evaluated the effects of our TE.Results. Hypertension was noted in 57 patients. RFs for hypertension included age, important interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), noncompliance to the dietary rules, and a rhythm of 2 sessions of dialysis per week. The use of a TE strategy enabled us to correct hypertension in some of our HD patients.Conclusion. A TE strategy improved the hypertension rate in our HD unit. This success could not be conceived without an educational effort supported by the whole medical team.