This study examined the relationships between spiritual/religious, demographic and clinical variables and quality of life among

Iranian Muslims undergoing haemodialysis. Using a cross-sectional design, 362 haemodialysis patients were surveyed from three general hospitals located in Tehran, Iran. Spiritual coping strategies, Duke University Religion Index, EQ-5D 3L and a demographic questionnaire were administered. Hierarchical regression was used to identify predictors of quality of life and health status. The distribution of reported problems across dimensions of quality of life was: mobility (59.4%), usual activities I-BET-762 solubility dmso (30.4%), self-care (21.3%), pain/discomfort (47.8%) and anxiety/depression (29.3%). Univariate analysis showed that factors such as age, sex, marital status, location, number of children, body mass index, serum albumin, having diabetes mellitus or other comorbidity, as well as spiritual/religious factors that were related to quality of life, health status or both. Regression models revealed that demographics, clinical variables and especially spiritual/religious factors explained about 40% of variance of quality of

life and nearly 25% of the variance in health status. Spiritual resources may contribute to better quality of life and health status among haemodialysis patients. Further longitudinal studies are needed Afatinib to determine whether these associations are causal and the direction of effect. “
“Randomized controlled trials have consistently demonstrated adverse outcomes from targeting higher haemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease patients treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating

agents (ESA). In contrast, observational studies have shown better survival in patients achieving high haemoglobin. Consequently, there is ongoing uncertainty as to whether high haemoglobin tuclazepam or high ESA dose contributes to poor outcomes in ESA-treated chronic kidney disease patients. The objectives of this article are to review the available evidence pertaining to this contentious area, provide recommendations where possible and suggest directions for future research efforts. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) are perhaps the most rigorously tested group of medications in nephrology. Since the introduction of ESA, there have been substantial reductions in the blood transfusion requirements of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD).1 A systematic review of 14 randomized controlled and uncontrolled trials in pre-dialysis CKD patients demonstrated that treatment of anaemia with ESAs improved energy and physical function.2 Unfortunately, these benefits have not translated into patient-level outcomes (or ‘hard’ clinical end-points). Indeed, targeting high haemoglobin in CKD patients is associated with a deleterious3 or neutral4 impact on survival and increased risks of stroke, vascular access thrombosis and hypertension without any reduction in cardiovascular events.