Successful treatment of patients with end-stage renal failure requires
, in addition to dialysis, strict control of dietary, fluid and medica
tion intake. In the present study we measured, in 50 chronic hemodialy
sis patients, serum potassium (K), serum phosphate (PO4) and interdial
ytic weight gain as indices of diet, medication and fluid compliance,
respectively. Dietary compliance did not correlate with fluid or medic
ation compliance, whereas fluid intake and medication compliance were
related (p = 0.01). Age, time on dialysis, place of birth and whether
the patient came accompanied or not to the dialysis unit were the main
variables affecting serum K levels. Sex, ethnic origin and education
significantly affected serum PO4. Sex, place of birth, marital status,
number of children and years of education affected fluid intake. The
compliance of the hemodialysis patient with different aspects of his r
egimen is thus multifactorial. Attempts to improve compliance and thus
reduce morbidity and mortality should be aimed at identifying the pop
ulation with low compliance and exposing them to educational programs.