Loneliness Level and Its Associated Factors in Patients With Hemodialysis

Recommendations to Advance Social Connectedness in End Stage Kidney Disease Care in a Post-COVID-19 Era

Social connectedness, defined as a sense of belonging and inclusion among individuals and groups, is crucial for the well-being of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. This Perspective employs a hypothetical case study to highlight the risks of social isolation and loneliness faced by ESKD patients. It offers guidance on how the ESKD community can effectively address these challenges. Although in-center hemodialysis provides an inherent environment for fostering social connections, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the risk of social disconnection. We delineate 5 key recommendations to mitigate this risk: (1) improve detection of loneliness and social isolation; (2) implement evidence-based social support interventions; (3) revitalize the in-center experience; (4) engage family caregivers; and (5) leverage technology for social connectedness. Neglecting opportunities to bolster social connections among ESKD patients would represent a significant interdisciplinary lapse. The proposed recommendations are feasible due to the integral role of interdisciplinary care within dialysis centers.

Associations between Social Support and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: Results from the TACcare Study

Key Points

Mean baseline levels of perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) were comparable with other chronically ill populations. Higher Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scores were correlated with lower levels of fatigue, pain, depressive symptoms, anxiety, better sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (Short Form-12 Mental Component Score). Moderation analyses revealed male sex and non-Hispanic ethnicity resulted in stronger positive associations of perceived social support with Short Form-12 Mental Component Score.

Background

Patients with ESKD experience high symptom burden, which has been associated with a negative effect on their interpersonal relationships. However, there is limited research exploring associations of social support and patient-reported outcomes among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

This study is a secondary, cross-sectional analyses of the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS]) at baseline. The study examined the extent to which perceived social support is associated with pain, depression, fatigue, anxiety, sleep, and health-related quality of life (Short Form-12 [SF-12] Mental Component Score [MCS] and Physical Component Score.

Results

Of the 160 randomized patients, the mean (SD) age was 58±14 years; years on dialysis was 4.1±4.2; 45% were female; 29% Black, 13% American Indian, and 18% Hispanic; 88% had at least high school education; and 27% were married. Mean baseline levels of perceived social support were comparable with other chronically ill populations. At least high school education (P = 0.04) and being married (P = 0.05) were associated with higher total MSPSS scores. Higher MSPSS scores were correlated with lower levels of fatigue (r =0.21, P = 0.008; higher fatigue scores signify lower fatigue), pain (r =−0.17, P = 0.03), depressive symptoms (r =−0.26, P < 0.001), anxiety (r =−0.23, P = 0.004), better sleep quality (r =−0.32, P < 0.001), and SF-12 MCS (r =0.26, P < 0.001). Moderation analyses revealed male sex and non-Hispanic ethnicity resulted in stronger positive associations of perceived social support with SF-12 MCS.

Conclusions

The level of perceived social support observed among patients receiving thrice-weekly hemodialysis in Technology Assisted Stepped Collaborative Care was similar to those observed in other chronic conditions. Because of the associations between perceived social support and patient-reported outcomes, particularly psychosocial and behavioral health outcomes, targeting social support appears to be warranted among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Clinical Trial registration number:

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03440853 .

The effects of exercise training interventions on depression in hemodialysis patients

Purpose

Depression considerably influences the clinical outcomes, treatment compliance, quality of life, and mortality of hemodialysis patients. Exercise plays a beneficial role in depressive patients, but its quantitative effects remain elusive. This study aimed to summarize the effects of exercise training on depression in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods

The PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from inception to April 2023 to identify published articles reporting the effect of exercise training on the depression level of patients with End-Stage Renal Disease undergoing hemodialysis. Data were extracted from the included studies using predefined data fields by two independent researchers. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies were employed for quality evaluation.

Results

A total of 22 studies enrolling 1,059 patients who participated in exercise interventions were included. Hemodialysis patients exhibited superior outcomes with intradialytic exercise (SMD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.49) and lower levels of depression following aerobic exercise (SMD = -0.93, 95%CI: -1.32 to -0.55) compared to combined exercise (c - 0.85, 95% CI: -1.29 to -0.41) and resistance exercise (SMD = -0.40, 95%CI: -0.96 to 0.17). Regarding exercise duration, patients manifested lower depression levels when engaging in exercise activities for a duration exceeding 6 months (SMD = -0.92, 95% CI: -1.67 to -0.17). Concerning the duration of a single exercise session, the most significant improvement was noted when the exercise duration exceeded 60 min (SMD = -1.47, 95% CI: -1.87 to -1.06).

Conclusion

Our study determined that exercise can alleviate depression symptoms in hemodialysis patients. This study established the varying impacts of different exercise parameters on the reduction of depression levels in hemodialysis patients and is anticipated to lay a theoretical reference for clinicians and nurses to devise tailored exercise strategies for interventions in patients with depression.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, This study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database, with registration number CRD42023434181.

Deleterious effects of intradialytic meals' suppression during the COVID pandemic

BACKGROUND&AIMS

Patients with end-stage renal failure on chronic hemodialysis present an important risk of malnutrition, which is associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Meals during the dialysis session are important for maintaining the nutritional status of dialysis patients but represent a risk for intradialytic hypotension. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several dialysis centers stopped providing meals during the dialysis session as a protective measure. The aim of this retrospective, multicentric cross-over study was to study the evolution of the nutritional parameters of a cohort of hemodialysis patients for 12 months before, during and after the suspension of meals during dialysis due to the COVID-19 pandemics.

METHODS

We registered the evolution of dry weight, C Reactive Protein (CRP), serum Potassium and Phosphate before the dialysis session, serum albumin and prealbumin levels as well as normalized Protein Catabolic Ratio (nPCR).

RESULTS

We studied 168 hemodialysis patients (113M, 55F, mean age at inclusion:68.45 ± 0.45 years). The results ares shown as mean values (±SEM). The supression of the intradialytic meals led to significant reduction of the patients' dry weight (in Kg) from 78.66 ± 0.72 to 76.50 ± 0.49, p = 0.013, serum albumin (in g/l) (from 40.72 ± 0.16 to 39.25 ± 0.12, p < 0.001) and prealbumin levels (in g/l) (from 33.82 ± 0.31 to 32.73 ± 0.22, p = 0.004) as well as the nPCR values (from 1.08 ± 0.08 to 1.05 ± 0.11, p = 0.021). Serum CRP as well as predialytic Potassium and Phosphate levels did not change significantly. The reinstitution of the intradialytic meals led to a complete correction of the studied nutritional parameters with Body weight values evolving from 76.50 ± 0.49 to 78.28 ± 1.01, p = 0.025, serum albumin from 39.25 ± 0.12 to 40.53 ± 1.04, p < 0.001, serum prealbumin levels from 32.73 ± 0.22 to 33.95 ± 0.64, p = 0.001 an nPCR from 1.05 ± 0.11 to 1.08 ± 0.08, p = 0.021.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the suppression of intradialytic meals during the COVID-19 pandemic had deleterious effects on the nutritional parameters of patients on chronic hemodialysis.