Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) can lead to pulmonary complications, especially pulmonary edema due to increased permeability of capillary and also intravascular and interstitial volume overload. These conditions lead to altered physiological and mechanical function of the lungs and subsequent increase in airway resistance. Objective: To determine the impact of hemodialysis on pulmonary function in ESRD patients undergoing regular hemodialysis.
Methods: An analytical-descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 ESRD patients on sustained HD in HD Unit of H. Adam Malik Hospital and Pirngadi Hospital, Medan during March to April 2013. Spirometry testing was applied on subjects before and after one session of HD, measured using a single device and independent operator. Results: Of the 90 samples 55 were male (61.1%) and 35 were female (38.9%) with mean age 50.18 ± 12.51 years old, duration of HD 21.27 ± 17.87 months, mean hemoglobin level 9.48 ± 1.21 mg/dl, ureum 110.17 ± 38.40 mg/dl and creatinine 11.50 ± 3.39 mg/dl. After hemodialysis, there were a significant increase in FEV1, FCV and FEV1/ FVC (p<0.01) and also a significant decrease in body weight (p<0.01). After HD, there was a significant correlation between decrease in body weight and improvement in FVC (p=0.006).
Conclusion: Hemodialysis is associated with significant improvement in spirometry parameters in ESRD patients undergoing regular HD.
Key words: End-stage renal disease, hemodialysis, pulmonary edema, spirometry