Abstract: Objective  To classify the subgroups of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients based on their volume management capacity characteristics and to analyze the influencing factors.  Methods  The MHD patients treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University Hospital, Zhenjiang Second People's Hospital, and Xingkang Chain Dialysis Center of Zhenjiang Hemodialysis Branch Center from September to November 2023 were recruited by convenience sampling method. General information questionnaire, Volume Management Behavior Scale, Dialysis Thirst Rating Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Fluid Intake Compliance Barrier Scale, Fluid Intake Self-Efficacy Scale, and Hemodialysis Knowledge Level Questionnaire were used for the investigation. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to explore the potential typologies of volume management characteristics in MHD patients. Univariate and multinomial logistic regression were used to evaluate the influencing factors.  Result  We recruited 322 MHD patients for this study, of whom 76 (23.6%) were classified as high ability-low barrier, 143 (44.4%) as moderate management ability, and 103 (32.0%) as low ability-high barrier. Logistic regression showed that when the high ability-low barrier patients were used as the reference group, education level of junior high school (OR=6.576, 95% CI: 1.132～38.187, P=0.036; OR=10.671, 95% CI: 2.238～50.882, P=0.003), dialysis duration of 1-5 years (OR=10.777, 95% CI: 2.422～47.966, P=0.002; OR=4.922, 95% CI: 1.457～16.628, P=0.010), diabetes (OR=16.729, 95% CI: 3.312～84.498, P=0.001; OR=5.034, 95% CI: 1.067～23.744, P=0.041), knowledge level (OR=0.405, 95% CI: 0.297～0.551, P＜0.001; OR=0.445, 95% CI: 0.331～0.598, P＜0.001), and social support (OR=0.884, 95% CI: 0.830～0.942, P＜0.001; OR=0.883, 95% CI: 0.832～0.937, P＜0.001) were the influencing factors for latent classes of volume management characteristics in MHD patients.  Conclusion  The volume management characteristics is heterogeneous in MHD patients. Healthcare professionals should identify management issues in different types of patients and implement targeted interventions to increase the patients' volume management capabilities.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Capacity management, Potential profile analysis, Influence factors