EFFECT OF BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE COGNITIVE AND OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS: INITIAL DATA FROM CLINICAL TRIAL

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has no expectation of cure, therefore, the treatment is based on maintaining the chronic state of the disease, through renal replacement therapies, such as hemodialysis or kidney transplant. The CKD can compromise occupational performance, since the beginning of hemodialysis, adaptation to new life habits is required.   OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of bright light on occupational performance of elderly people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis in the state of Ceará, aiming at its impact on the quality of life of these patients. METHOD: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with and qualitative-quantitative approach, with the use of bright light or placebo light in their homes for 30 minutes, for 4 weeks in the afternoon. From this perspective, the evaluation instruments were used before and after the light: The Dynamic Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment – for Geriatric Population (DLOTCA-G) adapted version for the Portuguese language. The sample consisted of 26 elderly people on dialysis, and the collection period comprised the months of August 2022 to May 2023. RESULTS: They were 69% (18/26) male and between 60 and 94 years old. The analysis of the impacts of such equipment on these individuals' memory, mental operations and visual-motor skills revealed that the bright light group had better results than the placebo group (linear regression, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Bright light exposure therapy proved to be very beneficial, especially for the memory and mediation of these elderly people, thus reflecting on the improvement of their quality of life.