Calidad de vida en pacientes que reciben hemodiálisis en la Unidad de Servicios Renales del Austro de la ciudad de Cuenca, 2025

Abstract

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Previous studies have shown that concerning quality of life, social support plays a crucial role and, in addition, a high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms has been evidenced in patients receiving hemodialysis. Objectives. To determine the quality of life in patients receiving hemodialysis in the Unidad de Servicios Renales del Austro (UNIREAS) in Cuenca, 2025. To describe sociodemographic and medical variables, as well as to determine social support and the presence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in the study population. Methods. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study. The sample constituted all patients at the Unidad de Servicios Renales del Austro of Cuenca. Quantitative variables were evaluated with arithmetic mean and standard deviation, while qualitative variables were evaluated with frequencies and percentages. Results. Sixty-five percent of the patients were older adults (≥60 years), 55.9% were women, 44.1% were unemployed and 33.4% were retired. 81.8% had comorbidities and diabetes mellitus was the etiology of CKD in 46.2%. 55.9% reported a low quality of life as assessed by the KDQOL-36 questionnaire, with the most affected component being “burden of disease.” Social support, as assessed using the MOS-SSS scale, showed scores indicating an adequate level of social support in all components. On the HADS scale, the values were in ranges that did not indicate significant symptoms. Conclusions: Patients reported a low quality of life, and certain factors such as social support and anxiety influence their well-being.