Sleep-related breathing disorders impair quality of life in haemodialysis recipients

Abstract

Background. It is well known that the quality of life of haemodialysis recipients is often severely compromised. So far, the influence of sleep-related breathing disorders on the quality of life of patients receiving maintenance dialysis has not been evaluated. Methods. Quality of life as assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Nottingham Health Profile Part 1 (NHP1) was determined in 33 patients (20 males, 13 females; median age 66 years (95% CI 22-82)) with end-stage renal disease treated with haemodialysis. Additionally, polygraphy with a validated eight-channel ambulatory recording unit was performed. Results. Twenty-one patients (63.6%) had a clinically significant sleep-related breathing disorder with a median apnoea/hypopnoea index of 13.3 (6.3-78.1)/h and a median oxygen saturation during sleep of 92.5 (88-97)%. In three out of eight subjective measures of the SF-36 (vitality, social functioning and mental health) and in one out of six subjective measures of the NHP1 (emotional reactions), patients without sleep-related breathing disorders had a higher quality of life than patients with this disorder (P < 0.05 each). Furthermore, the severity of the sleep-related breathing disorder as indicated by the apnoea/hypopnoea index significantly correlated with the following quality of life measures: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitation due to physical and emotional problems, general health and vitality (SF-36), and also with pain, sleep, social isolation and emotional reactions (NHP1) (P<0.05 each). Conclusions. We conclude that sleep-related breathing disorders independently influence the quality of life of patients receiving maintenance dialysis.