RESUMEN

Background: Many shortcomings associated with haemodialysis for instance, intradialysis blood pressure changes, often lead to inadequate dialysis dose. Measures are needed to improve on this. Objectives: To determine the risk factors and clinical correlates of intradialysis blood pressure variations. Methods: Maintenance haemodialysis sessions for 232 consented patients with end stage kidney disease who had 1248 sessions were studied. Data collected was from history, examination findings, serum electrolytes and hematocrit. Blood pressure reading was taken manually at rest. Statistical analysis was with SPSS 22. Chi square and t-test were used to compare proportions and means respectively while regression analysis was used to determine predictors of blood pressure changes. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.9 ± 4.6. More participants (38.8%) had hypertension associated CKD, than chronic glomerulonephritis, (37.9%). Majority (60.7%) had internal jugular catheter. Intradialysis hypertension was commoner than intradialysis hypotension (24.4% versus 19.4%). Intradialysis hypotension was commoner in females, diabetics and with less frequent dialysis while intradialysis hypertension was commoner in males, frequent erythropoietin use. The mean dialysis dose (Kt/V) was 1.02 ± 0.4, with 0.68 ± 0.1 for intradialysis hypotension and 0.84 ± 0.2 for intradialysis hypertension. Conclusion: Risk factors for intradialysis hypertension were males, frequent erythropoietin use while for intradialysis hypotension, were female gender and less frequent dialysis. Effective intra and inter-dialytic blood pressure control with adequate pre dialysis work up should be carried out to lessen the degree, burden and outcome of these variations. Funding: None declared.