Abstract: Objective To analyze the effects of residual renal function (RRF) on nutritional status and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.  Methods  A total of 67 MHD patients were selected and divided into RRF group with urine volume ≥ 200 ml/d within 24h before dialysis and non-RRF group without urine volume < 200 ml/d. The clinical data of the two groups were collected and analyzed. Plasma albumin, prealbumin and skeletal muscle index were compared between the two groups. Patients in the two groups were further subdivided into young subgroup (18～＜45 years old), middle-age subgroup (45～60 years old) and elderly subgroup (≥60 years old). The MOS 36 item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate the quality of life of the subgroups.  Results  ①The plasma prealbumin level (t=2.167, P=0.034) and skeletal muscle index (t=4.131, P＜0.001) were better in the RRF group than in the non-RRF group. ②The SF-36 scores of physiological function (t=4.781, P＜0.001 for young subgroups; t=2.306, P=0.036 for elderly subgroups), emotional function (t=3.606, P=0.005 for young subgroups; t=2.542, P=0.023 for elderly subgroups), mental health (t=2.621, P=0.026 for young subgroups;   t=2.518, P=0.024 for elderly subgroups), energy (t=4.111, P=0.002 for young subgroups; t=2.165, P=0.0473 for elderly subgroups) and social function (t=3.308, P=0.008 for young subgroups; t=2.136, P=0.049 for elderly subgroups) were higher, and the scores of physical pain (t=3.400, P=0.007 for young subgroups; t=2.439, P=0.028 for elderly subgroups) were lower in the young and elderly subgroups of the RRF group than in the young and elderly subgroups of the non-RRF group. The SF-36 scores of mental health (t=2.513, P=0.027), energy (t=2.521, P=0.034) and social functioning (t=4.781, P=0.031) were higher, and the physical pain scores (t=2.449, P=0.025) were lower in the middle-age subgroup of the RRF group than in the middle-age subgroup of the non-RRF group.  Conclusion  The nutritional status was better in MHD patients with RRF. RRF can elevate the quality of life of all aspects in young and elderly people, but has limited influence on the quality of life in middle-age people.

Key words: Residual renal function, Hemodialysis, Nutritional status, Quality of life