Depression and anxiety associated with KDQOL in Japan according to a dialysis patient's length of time on dialysis

For dialysis patients, screening for depression and anxiety helps to obtain an understanding of a dialysis patient's overall mental health. This relationship was investigated regarding such factors as the time on dialysis and depression, anxiety, and the influence on Quality of Life (QOL) of primary kidney disease. In addition, the time on dialysis, gender, age, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were also compared. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) short form Version1.3 Japanese version was administered to 2796 patients with maintenance hemodialysis therapy at 49 outpatient dialysis facilities in 2002-2003. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Quality of sleep with a strong relationship to QOL was assessed by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The dialysis period was classified into 2 groups. Next, the groups were examined using the Mann-Whitney U-test. In addition, a multivariate analysis was also performed. A negative correlation was seen between the length of time on dialysis and the score of KDQOL on the subscales for anxiety and depression. However, when the score for each subscales and the correlation with the time on dialysis were analyzed, no significant difference was observed. In a multivariate analysis, most scales were found to be related to depression in the dialysis patient of less than 15 years. No significant difference was observed in the mean value of the time on dialysis and the QOL each score. Therefore, the psychotic symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, were found to be closely related to the QOL in dialysis patients.