OBJECTIVES To analyse the incidence of pain and the need of analgesics during haemodialysis sessions, and its impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). METHODS Data about the number of sessions in which 172 patients showed pain and needed analgesics were collected in 2 haemodialysis units in Spain during 3 months. Age, sex, comorbidities, (diabetes and cancer history), time on haemodialysis, pain complaints during haemodialysis sessions, intake of analgesics, opioids and antidepressant drugs, were collected. Generic HRQoL was assessed by means of the computer adaptive test CAT-Health, previously validated, through an iPAD. A negative score means that the HRQoL is worse than that of general population and a positive score, indicates that it is better. RESULTS Mean age (S.D) was 66.87 (13.32), being 44 patients (25.6%) aged over 75 years. 55.8% were male, 34.3% diabetic and 11.6% had cancer history. The median time undergoing haemodialysis was 51.50 months (27.75-84.50). 81 patients (47.4%) had pain during some session. The mean number of haemodialysis sessions with pain was 4.78 (range between 1 and 21 sessions), which represents 12.7% of the total number of sessions. 67 patients (39%) were usually taking analgesics, 37(21.5%) opioids and 29(16.9%) antidepressant drugs. Patients taking analgesics showed worse HRQoL: mean (S.D) CAT-Health scores of -1.2412 (1.6065) vs -0.0119 (1.3495) (p<0.001). Patients taking opioids also showed worse scores:        -1.1009 (1.9349) vs -0.3288 (1.4169) (p=0.037). Differences on HRQoL according to antidepressant drugs were not statistically significant. Episodes of pain during dialysis were concentrated in 24 patients who had 6 or more painful sessions. These patients were taking analgesics more frequently (86.4% vs 36.9%; p<0.001) and showed worse CAT-Health score:      -1.5391 (1.6348) vs -0.3243 (1.4981) (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS Pain during haemodialysis sessions is very common and requires the frequent use of analgesics, having a negative impact on patients’ HRQoL.