Epidemiological study of vascular access in patients undergoing hemodialysis in Attica

• Published in: Ellīniko Periodiko tīs Nosīleutikīs Epistīmīs (online) pp. 13 - 33
• Main Authors: Nousis, Athanasios, Sakkas, Georgios, Stefanidis, Ioannis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Greek
• Published: 01.08.2023
• ISSN: 1791-9002; 2459-2994
• DOI: 10.24283/hjns.202332

Introduction: Hemodialysis is the most common therapy for final stage of the chronic kidney failure. Vascular access is the link between the patient and the machine and the dialyzer so that hemodialysis can be applied effectively. Although huge technological advances have been made, vascular access is still the weak link in treatment. Aim: The determination of the percentages and the type of vascular access carried by patients undergoing hemodialysis in Attica in a statistically significant examined population. Correlation of quality of life, levels of physical activity, the effect of early referral of patients to a nephrologist. Methods: A non-experimental synchronous study was performed where initially the studied population was selected and then the information regarding the determinant and the disease at a specific time was obtained and conducted in hemodialysis units of the public and private sector of Attica. Questionnaires were used for data collection: a) measuring quality of life, b) measuring fatigue c) measuring restless legs syndrome. The statistical program SPSS 22.0 was used for the analysis. Results: In 63.4% of the examined population, vascular access was created with arteriovenous anastomosis (AFA). More than half of the patients visited early a nephrologist before initial hemodialysis session with a rate of 66.2%. Most of those who had AFA visited a nephrologist early. There was a significant difference in the fatigue score depending on the type of vascular access. In the analysis of the dimensions of the quality-of-life scale, it was found that the type of vascular access and previous vascular accesses are related to dimensions of quality of life. Conclusion: It seems that patients who visited a nephrologist in time before initial hemodialysis session had increased rates of AFA and a better score in terms of quality of life. Fatigue was associated with the type of vascular access. The need for National registry system of vascular access seems to help the scientific community in extracting useful scientific data.