Objective:

The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of pain in hemodialysis patients.

Material and Method:

A descriptive and cross-sectional observational study was carried out in 134 patients (40% women and mean age of 68.05 ± 13.77 years) from the area of influence of the Nephrology Unit of the Reina Sofía University Hospital in Córdoba. To assess the characteristics of the pain, the Spanish Pain Questionnaire and the Brief Pain Questionnaire were used. In addition, dependency and comorbidity were evaluated.

Results:

Sixty-nine percent of patients reported suffering pain, compared to 31% that they did not have. The pain perceived as most painful was that of musculoskeletal origin and cramps, with a prevalence of 36% and 24%, respectively. 64% of the pain was located in the lower limbs, followed by the one located in the back. Regarding the maximum intensity, of the worst pain suffered in the last week, 66% rated it as severe, while at the time of the interview 38% did not have pain. The mood and rest were the activities least affected by the pain, with a median of 5.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of pain is high in patients studied, being the musculoskeletal origin the most frequent and located mainly in the lower limbs; In addition, pain has a direct impact on most activities of patients’ daily lives. Muscle cramps are the main cause of pain related to the hemodialysis procedure.