The relationship between the adequacy of hemodialysis and laboratory parameters

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the factors affecting the adequacy of dialysis and determine the relationship of dialysis adequacy with laboratory parameters. METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on 60 hemodialysis patients of Razi Medical Center of Qaemshahr, Iran, with the history of more than 3 months of dialysis. The participants were selected using census method. Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to evaluate laboratory parameters. The adequacy of dialysis was calculated through the Kt/V parameter. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests. RESULTS: According to the Kt/V criteria, the mean dialysis adequacy index was 1.6 ± 0.22 and 41.7% of the patients had the optimum dialysis adequacy (Kt/V of greater than 1.2), and 43.3% of patients had a dialysis adequacy which was close to the desirable level. There was a significant reverse relationship between dialysis adequacy and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between dialysis adequacy and parathyroid hormone (PTH), cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, phosphorus, and the number of dialysis sessions per week, duration of each dialysis session, and the history of dialysis (P 0.050). CONCLUSION: In order to increase the adequacy of dialysis, the blood sugar level of patients should be controlled and patients should be advised to modify their weight using a suitable diet.