Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) related to symptoms among maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHDp).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2013 and 2015, with 336 MHDp from five hospital hemodialysis units. It included a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence and intensity of 30 common dialysis-related symptoms quality of life and daily function of MHDp, by using the Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI), Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF), and demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: The five most commonly reported symptoms were identified as tiredness (80%), difficulty becoming sexually aroused (72%), decreased interest in sex (72%), worrying (67%), trouble staying asleep (65%), and trouble falling asleep (64%). Based on the DSI, the mean Overall Burden of Symptoms (OBS), on a scale of 0-30, was 15.4 ± 6.7, while the mean Overall Symptom Severity Score (OSSS), on a scale of 0-150, was 54.8 ± 29.8. Multivariate quantile regression models indicated that major depression is consistently associated with both the OBS and OSSS across different quantiles, whereas time on dialysis > 24 months was associated with the OBS only. Both the OBS and OSSS were inversely associated with KDQOL-SF: the kidney-related (KDCS), physical (PCS) and mental aspects (MCS), across multiple quantiles in multivariate quantile regression models.

Conclusions: MHDp bear a heavy burden of symptom which are associated with time spent on dialysis as well as depression. Clinical and research resources should be directed at controlling symptoms, improving daily function, detecting depression, and bettering quality of life.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Maintenance hemodialysis; Palliative care; Patient-reported outcomes; Symptoms.