Hamidah Hassan

Fatigue experienced by patients receiving maintenance dialysis in hemodialysis units.

The fatigue that is observed in patients who are undergoing dialysis is usually associated with an impaired quality of life. The present cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2009 in three hemodialysis units in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this study, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Depression Anxiety and Stress Score 21 were used to determine the level of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress of patients who were undergoing dialysis. The data were obtained from a calculated sample of 116 and a total of 103 respondents participated in the study. A total of 56 (54.4%) and 47 (45.6%) respondents experienced a high level and a low level of fatigue, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the duration of treatment and the level of fatigue. The respondents who had been receiving treatment for > 2 years experienced more fatigue, compared to the respondents who had been undergoing hemodialysis for > 2 years. There was a significant difference in relation to the age of the participants regarding the level of fatigue. No significant relationship between the sex of the participants, anemia, depression, anxiety, stress, and the level of fatigue was observed. Special attention needs to be paid to both the younger and older adults who are receiving treatment. In addition, proper planning is needed for the patients regarding their daily activities in order to reduce fatigue. Nurses who work in hemodialysis units are recommended to provide exercise classes or group therapy in order to boost the energy levels among patients who are undergoing dialysis. Health professionals should provide appropriate treatment for patients who are experiencing fatigue in order to prevent any other complications that could arise.

Food pattern and quality of life in metabolic syndrome patients: debatable facts.

We enjoyed reading the published article ‘Food pattern and quality of life in metabolic syndrome patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Taiwan’ by Tung et al.1 We wish to share few scientific facts related to the topic. In this study, quality of life (QoL), was defined as per eight subscales: (1) physical function (10 items); (2) role limitation caused by physical problems (four items); (3) role limitation caused by emotional problems (three items); (4) social function (two items); (5) bodily pain (two items); (6) mental health (five items); (7) vitality, energy/fatigue (four items); and (8) general health (five items). However, earlier the QoL was defined by WHO in 19972 as a person’s subjective perception about his or her position in life in relation to the culture and the value system the person is living in and about the person’s expectations, aims, and wishes. Honestly speaking, the assessment of patients on QoL on sexuality was found to be lacking; although, the mean age of the 104 patients was 67.6 years, 79.8% were male. By assessing the QoL on sexuality, it may provide us with some new findings on QoL and sexuality among the Asian men with metabolic syndrome, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Previous researchers stressed on the need of assessment of sexual dysfunction before and after cardiac rehabilitation.3,4 Hence, QoL could be influenced by sexual dysfunction. The sexual dysfunction may vary from individual to individual. It is a true fact that the younger generation may choose fried food in comparison to older age groups. Prevailing climatic conditions may also influence the consumption of food pattern. The findings of men having lower QoL while consuming soy products is also debatable. The authors mention that the soy products related to low QoL is not well understood. Could it be due to the presence of the oestrogen which could lead to emotional or mood disturbances? Further research is needed and the authors have rightly described such. We found the study to be interesting and we wish to congratulate the authors and thank the editor for publishing on such important public health-related topics.