LA QUALITÀ DELLA VITA NELL'ANZIANO IN DIALISI

Quality of life of the elderly patient on dialysis When elderly patients with end-stage renal disease start dialysis their quality of life, and particularly the emotional aspects of it, are very similar to those of age-matched controls. However, as the treatment becomes chronic the quality of life will decline not only with regard to the physical aspects (due to comor- bidities) but also the emotional aspects. Dialysis-related stress episodes and the peculiar interrelationships in the dialysis facility setting may cause psychologi- cal discomfort which on the one hand reduces the patient's quality of life and on the other may unfavorably impact on the family and the health-care per- sonnel. An integrated psychological approach involving the patient from the beginning of dialysis throughout the treatment process as well as the health- care personnel and the family can reduce the patient's psychological discom- fort, thereby improving quality of life. (G Ital Nefrol 2008; 25: 708-12) Conflict of interest: None