COMPARISON OF THE REHABILITATION STATUS OF CONTINUOUS AMBULATORY PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS AND IN-CENTER HEMODIALYSIS IN CHINESE PATIENTS

In Hong Kong, dialysis treatment has become more accessible in recent years. Due to a shortage of kidney donors patients are required to sta y on dialysis for longer periods. The rehabilitation status of 181 end -stage renal failure (ESRF) patients on dialysis, 34 on in-centre haem odialysis (ICHD) and 147 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), at the Prince of Wales Hospital was studied, There was no stat istically significant difference in physical functioning due to treatm ent type; however, CAPD patients were shown to be more socially active and had a better family life than ICHD patients (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant correlations between physical functioning , social life or family life and the duration of dialysis in both ICHD and CAPD patients. In both groups of patients 52.9% of ICHD and 52.4% of CAPD patients had decreased employment status. All. the patients w ere assessed by doctors-in-charge on their physical fitness for employ ment, 85.7% (n=6) of the unemployed ICHD patients and 71% (n=44) of th e unemployed CAPD patients were considered to be physically fit to wor k. Due to the ageing of the gen general population and greater availab ility of dialysis treatment and higher survival rate of the chronicall y ill have led to an increase in the number of elderly patients on dia lysis (aged 60 years and over). The proportion of elderly dialysis pat ients in our renal centre increased from 7-23% in the past 5 years. Co ntinuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients aged less than 60 yea rs were found to be significantly more physically active and socially active than CAPD patients aged over 60 years (P<0.01). In the aspect o f a better family life for these patients, no statistically significan t difference was found between the two groups. Rehabilitation of ESRF patients can be achieved by renal replacement therapy. It is concluded that CAPD patients have better adaptation in social life and family l ife than ICHD patients.