Disability is associated with nonadherence to diet and fluid restrictions in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nonadherence to diet and fluid restrictions and its relation with the level of disability in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CH).

METHODS

The study design was a descriptive survey. The data were obtained from 186 patients in hemodialysis centers in Turkey. Descriptive statistics including mean scores, standard deviations and frequencies, and correlations analysis and logistic regression were conducted. Data were collected by using a personal information form, the Dialysis Diet and Fluid and Brief Disability Questionnaire.

RESULTS

A great majority of hemodialysis patients showed nonadherence to diet and fluid restrictions. In total, 124 patients (66.7 %) reported mild to very severe nonadherence to diet, and 128 patients (68.8 %) reported mild to very severe nonadherence to fluid restrictions. Most of the patients with CH (69.9 %) experienced disability. The results of this study showed that nonadherence was more common among older age, females, low-educated patients and those with higher levels of disability.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that the prevalence of nonadherence to diet and fluid restrictions was high in hemodialysis patients. The significant predictors for diet and fluid nonadherence were: older age, high interdialytic weight gain, and severe disability. Medical professionals must be aware of nonadherence and related factors and assist patients in developing strategies to prevent and respond to this.