Investigation of the Relationship Between Biochemical Parameters, Alexithymia, and Stress Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Özet

Objective: Hemodialysis is a treatment modality for patients, in which physical and psychological stress factors are together. Intense anxiety and stress caused by treatment are very favorable for alexithymic feelings. Hemodialysis patients undergo continuous biochemical changes hemodynamically. Our aim in this study was to investigate the relationship between biochemical parameters; we use in hemodialysis patients’ follow-up and alexithymic emotions and stress factors. Methods: Fifty-one patients who received hemodialysis treatment due to end-stage renal failure in Bilecik Province in 2019 were included in the study. Routine biochemical follow-up data of patients, hemodialysis stressor scale, and Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS) were used in the study. The statistical significance level was determined as p<0.05 between routinely monitored hemodialysis parameters and scales. Results: It was observed that 58.8% of the patients included in the study were alexithymic. The mean hemodialysis stressor was 86.6, and the mean TAS was 62.76. The high levels of stress and alexithymic emotion scales in hemodialysis patients were noted. A significant relationship was found between inlet creatinine, urea reduction ratio, Kt/V, dry weight, albumin, output urea, and calcium between the hemodialysis stress scale and TAS subgroups. Conclusion: Psychiatric evaluation should be routine in the follow-up of hemodialysis patients, and the monthly psychologist/psychiatric examination, which was abolished with the last regulation change, should be restarted. It is also essential to increase the awareness of health-care professionals working in the dialysis unit about coping with stress and stressful patient management.