Introduction: Hemodialysis patient groups have advocated reducing dialysis fatigue and symptoms. We investigated whether compartmental fluid shifts were associated with peri-dialytic fatigue and symptoms.
Methods: Sessional dialysis records of patients reporting both a short and delayed recovery (<1 h and ≥1 h) with corresponding bioimpedance measurements were reviewed.
Results: One hundred and twenty-four patients reported both short and delayed recovery times, mean age 66.0 ± 14.8 years, 66.1% male. Differences between sessions included higher distress thermometer [4 (1-6) vs. 3 (0-5)], fatigue [4 (0-9) vs. 2 (0-7)], total symptom scores [20.5 (12.3-34.5) vs. 16 (7-28)], change in extracellular water to total body water ratios between body compartments [right leg/left arm 2.36 (1.23-4.19) vs. 1.28 (0.12-2.01), all p < 0.01] with delayed recovery, and more hemodialysis than hemodiafiltration sessions (χ2 4.6, p = 0.02).
Conclusion: Sessions with prolonged recovery times were associated with more peri-dialytic symptoms, psychological distress, and hemodialysis mode, and greater changes in compartmental fluid shifts.
Keywords: bioimpedance; extracellular water; hemodiafiltration; hemodialysis; peri‐dialytic symptoms.
© 2024 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.