Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
A Murine Model of Hemodialysis Access-Related Hand Dysfunction
Published on: May 31, 2022
Association between vascular access type and depression in hemodialysis patients
Ahmet Rıfkı Çora1, Ersin Çelik1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Isparta City Hospital, Isparta, Turkey.
Insights
Patients on hemodialysis with tunneled cuffed catheters showed higher rates of depression compared to those with arteriovenous fistulas. This highlights a potential link between vascular access type and mental health in end-stage kidney disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Psychiatry
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Hemodialysis is a critical treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
- Arteriovenous (AV) fistulas are the preferred vascular access method for hemodialysis.
- The psychological impact of different vascular access types requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between vascular access type and depression in hemodialysis patients.
- To compare depression prevalence between patients using AV fistulas and those using tunneled cuffed catheters.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 180 maintenance hemodialysis patients.
- The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was utilized to assess depression levels.
- Patient demographics, treatment details, and laboratory values were collected from medical records.
Main Results:
- A higher prevalence of depression (BDI scores > 14) was observed in patients with tunneled cuffed catheters (61%) compared to AV fistulas (36%) (p=0.001).
- No significant differences in access type were found regarding gender, diabetes, hypertension, or peripheral artery disease.
- Fifty-two percent of patients used AV fistulas, while 48% used tunneled cuffed catheters.
Conclusions:
- Tunneled cuffed catheters were associated with statistically higher depression scores in hemodialysis patients.
- The findings suggest a potential link between vascular access choice and mental well-being in ESKD patients.
- Further research is warranted to explore causative factors and interventions.
Introduction:
Hemodialysis is the most common treatment used for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and an arteriovenous fistula (AV) fistula is the preferred vascular access. The goal of our study was to investigate potential associations between vascular access type and depression.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional survey of 180 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess degree of depression. Demographic factors, treatment details, and laboratory values were obtained from the hospital medical record.
Findings:
Fifty-two percent (n = 93) of the patients were being dialyzed using an AV fistula and 48% (n = 87) via a tunneled cuffed catheter. No significant differences were found between access type use in terms of gender (p = 0.266), presence of diabetes, hypertension, or peripheral artery disease (p = 0.409, p = 0.323, p = 0.317; respectively). The prevalence of Beck Depression Inventory scores greater than 14 (marking presence of depression) was significantly higher in the patients being dialyzed with a tunneled cuffed catheters (61%) compared to patients dialyzed with an AV fistula (36%) (p = 0.001).
Discussion:
We found statistically higher depression scores among patients receiving hemodialysis with a tunneled cuffed catheter.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Hemodialysis I: Introduction
01:24Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
01:25Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis III: Nursing Management
01:27Dialysis
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis II: Peritoneal Dialysis Systems and Complications