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 > 0.05). 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.