Depression among caregivers of elderly patients on chronic hemodialysis

The present study was conducted to investigate depression in caregivers of elderly hemodialysis patients. Caregivers answered a self-administered questionnaire about various factors that may affect their depression, and also completed a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale evaluation (CESD). The frail elderly who received regular nurse visits were used as controls. Compared with the caregivers of controls, those of hemodialysis patients spent less time on caregiving and had more time to go out unaccompanied by their patients. Males were numerous among hemodialysis patients than in the controls. Compared with the controls, hemodialysis patients were less likely to be older old (80 years old and more), diagnosed as demented or severely limited in activities of daily living (ADL). On the other hand, we did not find any significant difference between the two groups with regard to either the prevalence of depression, the rate of those who experienced any life event such as to cause depression within 6 months (e.g., death of family member), duration of caregiving or time looking after patients. Caregivers of hemodialyis patients may feel a heavy burden because they are obliged to play an important role in supporting patients on dialysis. They seem to need more social support regardless of whether or not their patients suffer from dementia.