Influence of Social Support and Quality of Life on Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Although quality of life and social support are widely recognized as positive factors promoting health, few follow-up studies analyzing the predictive significance of social support and quality of life on the prognosis of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis have been published. PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the predictive value of social support and quality of life on all-cause mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: The Social Support Rating Scale and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form 1.3 were used to evaluate social support and quality of life, respectively. Cox analysis was used to analyze the predictive value of social support and quality of life on all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Over the course of this 3-year follow-up study, all-cause mortality was 30.93%. In terms of quality of life, significant between-group differences were found for two indices in the physical component summary (physical functioning and role-physical), three indices in the mental component summary (social functioning, mental health, and vitality), and two indices in the kidney disease domain (effect of kidney disease and patient satisfaction). Moreover, the surviving patient group reported higher scores on the physical component summary, mental component summary, and 36-item short-form health survey than the deceased patient group. In terms of social support, the surviving patient group earned significantly higher scores for utilization of social support and the social support rating scale total score than the deceased patient group. Based on Cox proportional hazards model results, 36-item short-form health survey and social support rating scale scores were significantly predictive of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings of this study demonstrate the predictive value of social support and quality of life for all-cause mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Healthcare providers should consider addressing social support and quality of life in the care of patients on hemodialysis to improve outcomes and enhance overall well-being in these individuals.