Depression Among Dialysis Patients

Abstract

Identification and treatment of depression in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important, since it can impair recovery, treatment, self-management, and quality of life. One hundred and twenty-one people undergoing hemodialysis in a tertiary care center in southern India were included in this study to assess depression in this population. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Among the patients, 33 (27.3%) were suffering from mild depression, 49 (40.5%) were suffering from moderate depression, and 19 (15.7%) had severe depression. Lower educational status [OR 3.77 (95% CI 1.34-10.63)], longer duration of dialysis [OR 5.75 (95% CI 1.79-18.44)], and hospitalization for indications other than dialysis in the last year [OR 3.88 (95% CI 1.34-11.27)] were associated with higher depression scores. It is important that all patients on routine hemodialysis be screened for signs and symptoms of depression, and this study contributes an international perspective to this important psychosocial determinant of patient outcomes.