Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To explore the status and the correlation of symptom distress and quality of life in middle-aged and elderly maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and to analyze the influencing factors for symptom distress. Methods A total of 160 MHD patients were recruited by convenience sampling method. The investigation included general information questionnaire, dialysis symptom index and the 12-item short from health survey. Results The overall quality of life score was 37.4±6.8 points, among which physiological health score was 40.3±6.3 points and mental health score was 34.6±6.0 points, all lower than the domestic norm. (t=-34.686, 22.06 and -30.43 respectively, P＜0.001). Symptom distress was negatively correlated with quality of life (r=-0.511, P<0.001). Multiple regression showed that age, residence place, income and number of diseases were the influencing factors for symptom distress (β=1.819, -2.606, -2.128 and 2.055 respectively; P=0.009, 0.021, 0.003 and 0.006 respectively). Conclusion The middle-aged and elderly MHD patients generally experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, and their quality of life is relatively low. Different demographic characteristics and disease conditions lead to different levels of symptom distress. Medical staff should design individualized nursing measures according to the specific conditions of the patients to reduce the symptom burden and improve the quality of life of the patients.

Key words: Middle-aged and elderly, Maintenance hemodialysis, Symptom burden, Quality of life, Influencing factors