Abstract

Objective: High-tone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS) has been shown to ameliorate painful peripheral neuropathy of dialysis patients. We hypothesized that HTEMS could also lead to improved parameters of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: 25 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (17 men/8 women, mean age 62.2 ± 14.2 years) were enrolled for the study. For evaluation of HRQOL the short form SF-36 was used. In addition, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the pain severity score were investigated. HTEMS was applied intradialytically for 1 hour, 3 times a week. Its effect was evaluated just before the beginning and both 6 and 12 weeks after onset of this study. Results: SF-36 showed a significant effect of time for the subscales of physical role functioning and social functioning. A marginal significant positive trend could be observed for physical functioning. The pain symptom questionnaire sum scores improved significantly after 12 weeks. The HADS did not change significantly. Conclusion: The data indicate that intradialytic HTEMS treatment of ESRD patients with peripheral neuropathy ameliorates various components of physical health.

Author Details

Authors

• André Klassen¹
• Simona Racasan²
• Mirela Gherman-Caprioara²
• Bernhard Kürner³
• Christoph Blaser⁴
• Udo Bahner¹
• August Heidland¹
• ⁵

Departments

• ¹ KfH Kidney Center, Würzburg, Germany,
• ² Department of Nephrology, Cluj, Romania,
• ³ KfH Kidney Center Tirschenreuth,
• ⁴ KfH Kidney Center Lohr am Main,
• ⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Würzburg, Germany

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