Introduction:

The frailty syndrome in dialysis patients can deteriorate the health-related quality of life.

Objective:

To analyze the association between frailty syndrome and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Materials and Method:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Mexico City. The convenience sample included 106 patients from the peritoneal dialysis program, of which 62% were male. Age, marital status, occupation, education level, body mass index, creatinine, and albumin were recorded. Health-related quality of life was assessed using KDQOL SF-36 and frailty syndrome through the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).

Results:

SPPB scores showed a significant correlation with certain categories of KDQOL SF-36, such as kidney disease effects, kidney disease burden, and physical components. Gait speed test scores were not associated with any category of KDQOL SF-36. There were also no associations between the scores obtained in the mental component of KDQOL SF-36 and those of the SPPB tests. Health-related quality of life was lower in patients with frailty, advanced age, or hypoalbuminemia.

Conclusions:

Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis have a high prevalence of frailty syndrome and decreased quality of life. Furthermore, the high frailty rate is associated with poorer quality of life, especially in physical performance.