BACKGROUND: The stagnant mortality rate of the last decade and the increased prevalence of aged people among hemodialysis patients motivated the present study to determine the relation of gender and age with the quality of life (QL) of patients with chronic kidney failure treated with hemodialysis. METHODS: From the sample of 107 individuals who underwent regular hemodialysis in a Dialysis Unit in the interior of the state of Ceará, Brazil, the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to calculate and to test the linear correlation between age and the score generated by the SF-36. The score for gender was compared by the t test and the Mann-Whitney when indicated. RESULTS: There was no difference between the score related to gender. There was no negative and linear correlation between age and the dimensions of QL named: Physical Functioning (r=-0.289, p=0.003), Physical Role (r=-0.224, p=0.020), Body Pain (r=0.252, p=0.008), General Health (r=-0.245, p<0.001), Vitality (r=-0.334, p<0.001) and Social Functioning (r=-0.270, p=0.005). There was no correlation between age and the dimensions: Role of Emotions (r=-0.149, p=0.125) and Mental Health (r=-0.158, p=0.103). CONCLUSION: Gender did not correlate with the level of QL among chronic hemodialysis patients, while there was a linear and negative correlation between age and the dimensions relating to the physical aspect of the QL.
Chronic kidney failure; Hemodialysis; Quality of life; Aging