Quality of life and depressive symptoms in patients with major depression and end-stage renal disease: A matched-pair study

ObjectiveTo compare the quality of life (QOL) and depressive symptoms of outpatients with major depression with that of nondepressed individuals undergoing hemodialysis (matched for age, gender, and ethnicity).MethodsWe used the WHOQOL BREF and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).ResultsAfter univariate analyses, depressed patients' QOL scores were significantly lower (P<.0001) in all the assessed domains (i.e., physical health, psychological, social relationships, environmental, and global QOL). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the severity of depression among the study groups (P<.0001). Finally, after multiple regression analysis, the QOL profile of depressed subjects remained significantly worse even when controlling for depression scores and diagnostic status.ConclusionThe subjective QOL of patients with major depression is significantly lower than that of subjects undergoing hemodialysis.