Appetite Assessment Quality of Life and Anxiety Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Regular Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Appetite is frequently decreased in hemodialysis patients. Anorexia contributes to poor quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess appetite in maintenance hemodialysis patients using appetite questionnaires, and to study the correlation between appetite and quality of life and anxiety. Results: This is cross-sectional observational study. This study included a total number of 162 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Appetite assessment, quality of life and anxiety were assessed using questionnaires. There was statistically significant difference of quality-of-life score domains among cases with diminished appetite and those with normal appetite using subjective assessment of appetite. There was statistically significant higher anxiety score mean among cases with diminished appetite than with normal appetite by subjective assessment (p<0.001). Conclusions: Hemodialysis patients with diminished appetite had significantly lower scores in all domains in quality of life than patients with normal appetite. Hemodialysis patients with diminished appetite had significant higher anxiety scores than patients with normal appetite.