Music-based activities during haemodialysis may reduce tiredness and pain in the short term while easing low mood for up to six months, according to a Cochrane systematic review updated in May 2025. However, evidence regarding blood pressure and medium-term tiredness remains highly uncertain.
People whose kidneys stop working properly require haemodialysis, a clinical procedure where an extracorporeal machine filters waste products, excess salts, and fluid from the blood. Patients undergoing this renal replacement therapy frequently face severe physical and psychological burdens. To combat these challenges, researchers have increasingly evaluated non-pharmacological interventions like music-based activities.
The Cochrane review, published by the Cochrane Library, evaluated 27 randomised and quasi-randomised trials involving a total of 1,584 participants across 13 countries and territories in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Investigators compared these music interventions—ranging from recorded music delivered via headphones to live music and structured sessions led by trained music therapists—against usual care or control activities like wearing inactive headphones.
Music Helps Ease Pain and Supports Mood During Dialysis
- Short-Term Relief: Listening to music during dialysis sessions may help lower perceived pain and physical tiredness over a period of up to four weeks.
- Mood Support: Structured music interventions and recorded playlists can alleviate symptoms of low mood and depression for up to six months.
- Uncertain Outcomes: Evidence remains inconclusive regarding whether music reliably lowers blood pressure or reduces medium-term fatigue beyond one month.
How Music-Based Activities Impact Dialysis Patients
Data synthesized in the Cochrane review indicate that music-based activities reduce tiredness within the initial four-week window. Beyond four weeks and up to six months, the medium-term impact on fatigue remains uncertain, and no trials investigated tiredness past the six-month mark. Similarly, pain scores decreased in the short term (up to four weeks), but no studies evaluated pain outcomes beyond that initial window.
Low mood showed measurable improvement across both short-term and medium-term assessments spanning up to six months. By contrast, investigators found that the evidence regarding blood pressure changes—both short-term and medium-term—was marked by high uncertainty, with studies showing conflicting physiological responses.
What Are the Limitations of the Current Evidence Base?
Despite evaluating 1,584 participants, the overall confidence in the current body of evidence is low to very low. Many of the included clinical studies suffered from methodological flaws, such as inadequate blinding and small sample sizes that limited statistical power.
Heterogeneity across trial designs—including variations in music selection, intervention duration, and patient populations—contributed to inconsistent findings between studies. A total absence of longitudinal data beyond six months prevents clinicians from drawing definitive conclusions regarding the long-term sustainability of these psychological and physiological benefits.
References
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews – Music-based interventions for haemodialysis patients (Updated May 2025).
