Prevalence of anxiety and depression among end-stage kidney disease patients on dialysis: A cross-sectional...

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in need of renal replacement therapy are estimated to number between 4.902 and 7.083 million. Studies have shown that depression and anxiety are the most common mental illnesses among people with kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Anxiety is linked to mortality in dialysis patients with ESRD, as well as a lower perceived quality of life. The purpose of this study was to look into the prevalence of anxiety and depression in dialysis patients in Saudi Arabia, as well as the associated risk factors.

This was a cross-sectional study that included patients receiving peritoneal and hemodialysis at two dialysis centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Fahad Medical City and King Salman Dialysis Center. It was conducted from June 2021 to March 2022. There were 158 dialysis patients in all, including 135 hemodialysis patients and 23 peritoneal dialysis patients. Characteristics of patients were documented. Anxiety and depression were evaluated using The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Our study yielded 158 responses, with the majority being females. Among the two dialysis populations studied, the type and duration of dialysis were not significantly associated with anxiety or depression. Our study revealed that the female gender was significantly associated with anxiety (P = 0.007); the female gender significantly increased the likelihood of anxiety (odds ratio [OR]: 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-7.9), whereas unemployment and male gender were significantly associated with depression, with a P-=0.036 and P = 0.028, respectively.

Anxiety and depression are common mental health conditions. Despite the limited number of studies on anxiety and depression in dialysis patients, it is evident that gender and employment status are significantly associated with anxiety and depression, respectively. More research is needed to shed light on this issue in Saudi Arabia. Identifying and treating mental health disorders in early-stage CKD patients may facilitate better disease management and improve the quality of life.