Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most serious public health problems. The increasing prevalence of CKD in developed and developing countries has led to a global epidemic. The hypothesis proposed is that patients undergoing dialysis would experience a marked negative influence on physiological variables of sleep and autonomic nervous system activity, compromising quality of life.Methods/Design: A prospective, consecutive, double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial is proposed to address the effect of dialysis on sleep, pulmonary function, respiratory mechanics, upper airway collapsibility, autonomic nervous activity, depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in patients with CKD. The measurement protocol will include body weight (kg); height (cm); body mass index calculated as weight/height(2); circumferences (cm) of the neck, waist, and hip; heart and respiratory rates; blood pressures; Mallampati index; tonsil index; heart rate variability; maximum ventilatory pressures; negative expiratory pressure test, and polysomnography (sleep study), as well as the administration of specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life.Discussion: CKD is a major public health problem worldwide, and its incidence has increased in part by the increased life expectancy and increasing number of cases of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Sleep disorders are common in patients with renal insufficiency. Our hypothesis is that the weather weight gain due to volume overload observed during interdialytic period will influence the degree of collapsibility of the upper airway due to narrowing and predispose to upper airway occlusion during sleep, and to investigate the negative influences of haemodialysis in the physiological variables of sleep, and autonomic nervous system, and respiratory mechanics and thereby compromise the quality of life of patients.Nove de Julho University (Brazil)Nove de Julho Univ UNINOVE, Rehabil Sci Master Degree & PhD Program, Sao Paulo, BrazilNove de Julho Univ UNINOVE, Phys Therapy Sch, Sao Paulo, BrazilNove de Julho Univ UNINOVE, Psychol Sch, Dept Hlth, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Ciencias Saude Alagoas UNCISAL, Phys Therapy Sch, Maceio, AL, BrazilCtr Nefrol Zona Norte CENENORTE, Sao Paulo, BrazilFortaleza Univ UNIFOR, Med Sch, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista UNESP SJC, Biosci Dept, Sao Paulo, BrazilCNR, Ist Biomed & Immunol Mol Alberto Monroy IBIM, Palermo, SI, ItalyNove de Julho Univ UNINOVE, Med Master Degree Program, Sao Paulo, BrazilNove de Julho Univ UNINOVE, Sleep Lab, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista UNESP SJC, Biosci Dept, Sao Paulo, Brazil