Detrended fluctuation analysis of photoplethysmography in diabetic nephropathy patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

This research was examines the autonomic nervous response on diabetic nephropathy patients before and after starting dialysis. The subjects included 14 healthy adults and 14 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis (HD) (7 diabetic nephropathy patients and 7 non-diabetic nephropathy patients). The photoplethysmography of the subjects was measured. Using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), the α of the pulse waves was calculated and compared among the subjects. The mean α1 after starting the hemodialysis session in diabetic nephropathy patients was significantly smaller than the mean α1 in the healthy adults, the mean α1 before starting the hemodialysis session in diabetic nephropathy patients, and the mean α1 after starting the hemodialysis session in non-diabetic nephropathy patients. There was no significant difference between any groups in α2. These results suggest that hemodialysis affects the autonomic nervous system in diabetic nephropathy patients. © Springer International Publishing 2013.