Does Metabolic Syndrome Have an Impact on the Quality of Life and Mood of Hemodialysis Patients?

Objective

Little is known about the association between metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We hypothesized that MetSyn may be associated with lower HRQoL and depression in HD patients.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study.

Setting

The trial involved HD patients at a tertiary-care hospital.

Patients

We evaluated 115 patients (41 women and 74 men; mean age, 48.4 ± SD 11.9 years SD).

Methods

MetSyn was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Panel criteria. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess HRQoL and signs of depression, respectively. We compared HRQoL and clinical and psychosocial characteristics among participants with and without MetSyn.

Results

Fifty patients (43.5%) had MetSyn, and 65 patients (56.5%) were free of MetSyn. Comparisons of SF-36 and BDI scores between HD patients with and without MetSyn revealed no statistically significant differences. The Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) of SF-36 was independently associated with HD duration (β = −0.274, P = .002), age (β = −0.206, P = .024), sleep disturbance (β = −0.175, P = .045), albumin (β = +0.252, P = .006), and hemoglobin (β = +0.270, P = .002) in stepwise linear regression analysis. The MetSyn was not associated with PCS. The Mental Component Summary Score of SF-36 was independently associated with hemoglobin (β = +0.235, P = .016) and BDI score (β = −0.218, P = .025).

Conclusions

The presence of MetSyn was not associated with HRQoL according to the Mental Component Summary Score. In HD patients, HRQoL and depressive behaviors were not influenced by MetSyn, but by various other factors.