Depression in patients undergoing conventional maintenance hemodialysis: The disease effects on dialysis adequacy

Depressive symptoms and dietary non-adherence among end stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy: systematic review

Background

Research suggests that patients with end stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis have a higher rate of depression and dietary non adherence leading to hospitalization and mortality. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the quantitative evidence on the relationship between depressive symptoms and dietary non adherence among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

A systematic review was undertaken. Three electronic databases were searched including PubMed, CINHAL and Web of Science. Only quantitative studies published between 2001 and 2016 were included in the review.

Result

A total of 141 publications were reviewed during the search process and 28 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the review. Eleven studies (39.3%) reported on the prevalence of depressive symptoms or depression and its effect on patient outcomes. Ten studies (35.7%) focused on dietary adherence/non adherence in patients with ESRD and the remaining seven (25%) articles were descriptive studies on the relationship between depressive symptoms and dietary non adherence in patients with ESRD receiving hemodialysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and dietary non adherence ranged as 6–83.49% and from 41.1–98.3% respectively. Decreased quality of life & increased morbidity and mortality were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Other factors including urea, hemoglobin, creatinine and serum albumin had also association with depressive symptoms. Regarding dietary non adherence, age, social support, educational status, behavioral control and positive attitudes are important factors in ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis. Having depressive symptoms is more likely to increase dietary non adherence.

Conclusion

Depressive symptoms and dietary non adherence were highly prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis therapy. Nearly all of the articles that examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and dietary non adherence found a significant association. Future research using experimental or longitudinal design and gold standard measures with established cut-points is needed to further explain the relationship.

Are Depression and Anxiety Common in Hemodialyzed Patients?

Researchers confirmed that depression and anxiety are two common comorbid disorders in chronic kidney patients. The aim of our study was to screen the level of depression and anxiety in a group of end-stage kidney diseases treated with hemodialysis. The evaluated sample comprised 230 participants; 110 females (mean age 55.5±13.5 years), and 120 males (mean age 54.5±14.3 years). The mean duration of maintenance dialysis was 8.3±5.8 years (from 0.5 to 24 years). Patients were selected randomly from three dialysis centers in R. Macedonia. As psychometric instruments Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and scores from Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-201) were used. Our study confirmed that majority of evaluated dialyzed patients are depressed and anxious in different level, but unfortunately the mental problems are frequently unrecognized. We suggested some response measures for management of these conditions in order to avoid risks for complications as well of suicide.

Association Between Anxiety and Depression With Dialysis Adequacy in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background

Depression and anxiety are common among hemodialysis patients and affect their treatment outcomes. Dialysis adequacy also affects the hemodialysis patients’ survival rates.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between anxiety and depression with dialysis adequacy.

Patients and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 127 hemodialysis patients (73 males, 57.5%) with the mean age of 55.7 ± 17.5 were enrolled. Demographic and recent laboratory data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and by reviewing medical records. Dialysis adequacy measures including the Kt/V and urea reduction rate (URR) were calculated using standard formulas. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to diagnose depression and anxiety. Independent sample t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the values in different groups. Pearson correlations and linear regression were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 21.

Results

The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety (HADS score ≥ 8) were 31.5% and 41.7%, respectively. The prevalence of both conditions was significantly higher in women than in men (P < 0.05). The mean values of Kt/V and URR were not different in patients with and without depression or anxiety. The anxiety scores were correlated with age (P = 0.007, r = -0.24) and parathyroid hormone (P = 0.04, r = -0.19). Younger age and lower parathyroid hormone were the only factors that predicted higher scores of anxiety in linear regression. The Kt/V or URR were not significantly correlated with depression and anxiety scores.

Conclusions

Depression and anxiety are common among hemodialysis patients. There are no statistically significant correlation between depression and anxiety and dialysis adequacy.

Psychological Characteristics of Patients Treated by Chronic Maintenance Hemodialysis

Studies related to psychological aspects of dialysis patients show that depression and anxiety are the most common characteristics.

The aim of our study was to analyze the personality profile in patients on chronic maintenance dialysis and to evaluate more specifically the level of depression. The total number of patients was 68 (30 females and 38 males), with mean age 62.3 and 56.5 for females and males respectively. Mean duration of dialysis was 6.73 years for females and 6.68 years for men (the period varied from 0.5 to 18 years).

For the evaluation of psychological characteristics, we used two psychometric instruments: Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI- 201) and Beck Depression Inventory. The obtained results confirmed the presence of depression in patients treated with hemodialysis. The level of depression is variable (minimal is present in 21.43%; mild in 35.71%; moderate in 17.85% and severe in 14.28% of patients). The depression is significantly positively correlated with age (p<0.05) as well as with educational level, and negatively with the duration of dialysis.

Specific characteristics of personality obtained with MMPI are hypersensitivity, depressive mood, and withdrawal from friends and relatives. More specific emotional traits are the accentuated anxiety, low level of hostility, but very high passive aggression which destroys their social communications. Some response measures for depression such as relaxation training, psychological support, music therapy, or peripheral biofeedback are recommended.