Shorter dialysis session length was not associated with lower mental health and physical functioning in elderly hemodialysis patients: Results from the Japan Dialysis Outcome and Practice Patterns Study (J-DOPPS)

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often prioritized over long-term survival in elderly patients. Although a longer dialysis session length (DSL) has been shown to reduce mortality, its effects on improving the HRQOL are unknown. Methods Using data from the Japan Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (J-DOPPS), patients aged >= 65 years on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled. DSL was categorized as short (<210 minutes), medium (210-240 minutes), or long (>240 minutes). The primary outcomes were changes in mental health (Delta MH) and physical functioning (Delta PF) scores assessed using the Japanese version of SF-12, in one year. The differences in the Delta MH and Delta PF among the three groups were assessed via regression (beta) coefficients derived using a linear regression model. Results Of 1,187 patients at baseline, 319 (26.9%) had a short length, 686 (57.8%) a medium length, and 182 (15.3%) a long length. We assessed the.MH data from 793 patients and the Delta PF data from 738. No significant differences in the.MH were noted for the short or long groups compared with the medium group (score difference: 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.17 to 4.69 for short; score difference: -1.15, 95% CI: -6.17 to 3.86 for long). Similarly, no significant differences were noted for these groups versus the medium group in.PF either (score difference: -1.43, 95% CI: -6.73 to 3.87 for short; score difference: -1.71, 95% CI: -7.63 to 4.22 for long). Conclusions A shorter DSL might have no adverse effects on MH or PF for elderly patients.