Hypothyroidism Impairs Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Hypothyroidism was associated with lower quality of life among patients on hemodialysis, according to the results of a recent study.

Despite being highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients, it is currently unknown whether hypothyroidism affects health-related quality of life or mental health in these patients.
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For their study, researchers examined data from 450 hemodialysis patients from 17 outpatient dialysis facilities who underwent protocolized thyrotropin testing, Short-Form 36 surveys, and Beck Depression Inventory-II questionnaires every 6 months.

Overall, the highest baseline thyrotropin tertile was associated with a 5-point lower Short-Form 36 domain score for energy/fatigue and the highest time-dependent tertile was associated with a 5-point lower physical function score.

Higher baseline serum thyrotropin levels were associated with lower role limitations due to physical health, energy/fatigue, and pain scores, equivalent to 5-, 3-, and 5-point lower scores, respectively, for each 1-SD higher thyrotropin.

“In patients on hemodialysis, higher serum thyrotropin levels are associated with impaired health-related quality of life across energy/fatigue, physical function, and pain domains. Studies are needed to determine if thyroid-modulating therapy improves the health-related quality of life of hemodialysis patients with thyroid dysfunction,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Rhee CM, Chen Y, You AS, et al. Thyroid status, quality of life, and mental health in patients on hemodialysis [Published online July 2017]. CJASN. doi: 10.2215/​CJN.13211216