Abstract

ANDREU-PERIZ, Lola; PUIG-LLOBET, Montserrat  and  CASES-AMENOS, Aleix. Level of dependence in patients on haemodialysis in Catalonia and evolution of mortality rates. Nefrología (Madr.) [online]. 2012, vol.32, n.5, pp.613-621. ISSN 1989-2284.  https://dx.doi.org/10.3265/Nefrologia.pre2012.Jun.11460.

Introduction: Age as well as associated comorbilities of ESRD patients under maintenance haemodialysis, (HD) result in an impairment of their functional autonomy. Our aims were to assess the level of dependence in patients under HD as well as their mortality rate after three years. To do so, we followed the criteria established by the "Ley de Promoción de la Autonomía Personal y Atención a las Personas en situación de dependencia", the Spanish Law of Dependence (LD). Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study done between October 2007 and January 2008. From 3702 patients in 40 Units in Catalonia, 806 were selected as potential dependent individuals according to the criteria of their healthcare givers. Variables studied included: level of dependence according to the criteria of the LD, age, time under HD, associated pathology, treatment characteristics, family circumstances and survival from 2009 to 2011. Results: According to the LD, 137 did not present dependence, 350 had a dependence level of grade 1, 237 of grade 2, and 82 of grade 3. 121 were living in an Institution. The mean age was 74,9?±18,2 years and the median time under HD was 36 months. The prevalence of remarkable pathologies were: diabetes (35,7%) and cardiovascular disease (29,1%). Musculoskeletal alterations (87%) and neurological disorders (38%) were the main causes of dependence. 64,2% patients were harbouring a catheter as a vascular access. 34,9% of patients survived after three years, and they had a lower level of dependence when compared to those patients who died, with no statistically significant differences within those three years. Conclusions: According to the LD, the prevalence of patients with dependence in Catalonia is relevant (18,07%). These patients present a high mortality rate after three years.

Keywords : Haemodialysis; Dependence; Mortality; End-stage renal disease.

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