Correlates of symptoms of depression and anxiety in chronic hemodialysis patients

ObjectiveLittle is known about the demographic, clinical and laboratory variables which may be correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study aimed at evaluating such correlation in HD patients treated at a single HD center in a Mediterranean country.MethodsEighty HD patients were assessed for depression and anxiety with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). The scores of BDI and HARS were correlated with demographic, clinical and laboratory variables.ResultsBased on the Beck Depression Inventory, 38 patients had no symptoms of depression and 42 had symptoms of depression. Based on the HARS, three patients had no symptoms of anxiety and 38 had mild symptoms of anxiety, whereas moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety were present in 39 patients. In univariate analysis, BDI score correlated significantly with age, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, SF-36 Vitality Subscale, Mini-Mental Status Examination, creatinine, albumin, plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. HARS score correlated significantly with age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, SF-36 Vitality Subscale and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. In the multivariate analysis, a direct and an inverse correlation between BDI and IL-6 [P=.042, OR=1.31 (95% CI=1.01–1.71)] and creatinine [P=.050, OR=0.73 (95% CI=0.54–1.00)] was observed. With regard to HARS, only a direct correlation with Charlson Comorbidity Index [P<.001, OR=1.55 (95% CI=1.22–1.96)] was found.ConclusionAlthough numerous demographic, clinical and laboratory variables correlated with BDI and HARS in univariate analysis, the multivariate regression analysis showed only a direct correlation between BDI and IL-6 [P=.042, OR=1.31 (95% CI=1.01–1.71)] and an inverse correlation between BDI and creatinine [P=.050, OR=0.73 (95% CI=0.54–1.00)] and a direct correlation between HARS and the Charlson Comorbidity Index [P<.001, OR=1.55 (95% CI=1.22–1.96)].