QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE ON HEMODIALYSIS AT IMAMEIN KADHIMEIN MEDICAL CITY 2025
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and to evaluate its association with selected sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted at the dialysis center of Imamein Kadhimein Medical City, Baghdad, from February to July 2025. A convenience sample of 200 adult patients receiving maintenance HD was included. Data were collected through direct interviews using a structured sociodemographic questionnaire and the Kidney Disease QoL-36 (KDQOL-36) instrument. QoL scores were transformed to a 0–100 scale, with higher scores indicating better QoL. For descriptive interpretation, an overall QoL score below 50 was considered poor QoL. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of QoL. Results: The mean overall QoL score was 50.2±12.1. Using a cutoff value of <50 on the KDQOL-36 scale, 51% of patients were classified as having poor QOL. Domain-specific mean scores were as follows: Mental component summary (41.8), physical component summary (36.3), burden of kidney disease (33.7), symptoms/problem list (72.4), and effects of kidney disease (67.0). Multivariate analysis showed that sufficient income was the strongest independent predictor of better QoL across all domains (p<0.05). Male sex and longer dialysis duration were associated with improved mental health, while higher educational level predicted better physical health. In contrast, the presence of three or more comorbidities was independently associated with poorer physical and disease-related outcomes. Age and residency showed no significant independent associations. Conclusion: More than half of the HD patients experienced poor QoL, particularly in physical, mental, and disease-burden domains. Socioeconomic status and comorbidity burden were key determinants of QoL, highlighting the importance of comprehensive and multidisciplinary interventions.