CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The stress of living with a terminal disease has a negative impact on the mental health of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Spirituality is a potential coping mechanism for stressful experiences. Studies on the relationship between spirituality and mental health among HD patients are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mental health and spiritual well-being among HD patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional observational study on hemodialysis patients at a single center in Brazil, between January and December 2011. METHODS : Mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire and spiritual wellbeing was assessed using the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale; 150 HD patients participated in the study. RESULTS : A significant correlation was found between mental health and spiritual wellbeing (P = 0.001). Spiritual wellbeing was the strongest predictor of mental health, psychological distress, sleep disturbance and psychosomatic complaints. CONCLUSION: Poor mental health was associated with lower spiritual wellbeing. This has important implications for delivery of palliative care to HD patients.

Introdução: A pobreza influencia na evolução dos pacientes com doenças crônicas, porque contribui para o seu agravamento e dificulta o acesso à assistência médica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os aspectos relacionados à desigualdade social de pacientes em hemodiálise. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 123 pacientes em hemodiálise no Hospital Samuel Libânio – Pouso Alegre, MG, divididos, de acordo com a classe econômica, em 3 grupos: AB (n=23), C (n=60) e DE (n=40),. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e econômicos, antecedentes clínicos e informações sobre o acesso a serviços de saúde. Para a análise dos resultados, foi utilizada estatística analítica e descritiva. Adotou-se p £ 0,05. Resultados: O grupo AB apresentou um menor número de pacientes jovens (4,3% em AB vs 40% em C e 25% em DE, p < 0,05), um maior número de indivíduos com mais anos de escolaridade (65,3% em AB vs 18,3% em C e 2,5% em DE; p < 0,05), predomínio de pacientes com menos de um ano em tratamento de hemodiálise (65,2% em AB vs 10% em C e 5% em DE, p < 0,05), menor número de usuários do SUS (40% em C e 25% em DE vs 4,3% em AB; p < 0,05) e maior acesso ao tratamento com nefrologista (73,9% em AB vs 46,7% em C e 52,5 em DE; p < 0,05). Conclusão: Classes economicamente desfavorecidas agregam indivíduos mais jovens, com menor escolaridade, usuários do SUS, com maior tempo em hemodiálise e pior acesso ao tratamento com nefrologista.Introduction: The poverty influence on the evolution of patients with chronic diseases because it contributes to your aggravation and hinders access to health care. Our goal was to evaluate the aspects related to social inequality on hemodialysis patients. Methods: cross-sectional study with 123 patients on hemodialysis in Samuel Libânio Hospital – Pouso Alegre, MG, divided according to the economic class, into 3 groups: AB (n = 23), C (n = 60) and DE (n = 40). Were collected socio-demographic and economic data, clinical background and information about access to health services. For analysis of the results has been used statistical analytical and descriptive. We take p £ 0,05.  Results: The AB group has fewer young patients (4,3% in AB vs 40% in C and 25% in DE, p< 0,05), a greater number of individuals with more years of schooling (65,3% in AB vs 18,3% in C and 2,5% in DE; p< 0,05), predominance of patients with less than a year on haemodialysis treatment (65,2% in AB vs 10% in C and 5% in DE, p< 0,05), smaller number of users of SUS (40% in C and 25% in DE vs 4,3% in AB; p< 0,05), greater access to treatment with nephrologist (73,9% in AB vs 46,7% in C and 52,5% in DE; p< 0,05). Conclusion: Economically disadvantaged classes bring younger patients, with less schooling, users of SUS, patients with greater time on hemodialysis and worse access to treatment with nephrologist.