Determinants and prevalence of depression in patients with chronic renal disease, and their caregivers

Abstract

Introduction

This study explored the prevalence of depression among the patients with chronic kidney disease and their caregivers and its association to their demographic profile.

Methods

A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study that used the Hamilton rating scale tool to assess the prevalence of depression among 226 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 105 of their caregivers in a hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Results

Patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers experience depression at varying levels. Depression was positively associated with the socioeconomic and marital status of the patients. Socioeconomic status of the caregivers was seen to be associated with their depression.

Conclusion

Depression is highly prevalent among patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers.

Introduction

Patients and their families experience many different kinds of stress during the duration of their illness and treatment. Kidney disease is among the high-stress illnesses because of the chronicity of the disease and its long-term treatment. The patients suffer for years enduring discomfort and disruption to life as they spend hours undergoing dialysis treatments as long as they live. The illness also causes stress on the families of the patients because the treatment is life-time that requires constant and frequent visits to the hospital aside from the financial costs incurred and the change in family roles it brings about. Families also experience mental stress as they support their loved ones go through the process of illness and treatment. The presence of constant stress may lead to clinical depression when not recognized and managed appropriately.

The prevalence of renal diseases is high and growing in the gulf region.1 It has been noted that patients with renal disease suffer higher rates of depression including their caregivers who also suffer from mental stress.1,2 In Saudi Arabia, kidney diseases are among the top causes of morbidity and mortality. Statistics have shown that the prevalence of kidney diseases in the Kingdom is constantly increasing.3 It can be gleaned that the high prevalence of kidney diseases in the Kingdom may also indicate high prevalence of depression associated to these diseases; however, the attention is mostly focused on the management of the kidney disease rather than the associated depression. This study was done to explore the prevalence of depression among these patients with kidney diseases and their caregivers as well. Depression is as debilitating as the kidney disease itself and should be given the same amount of consideration. It is considered to be the second most incapacitating and economically costly illness worldwide. Depression that is not managed affects the treatment and leads to poor prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD).4

Methods

This is a cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study that focused on the prevalence of depression among the patients with kidney failure and their caregivers. It also looked into the association of the demographic profiles and the prevalence of depression for both the patients with kidney failure and their caregivers.

Participants

The study included 226 patients and 105 caregivers. The participants included both the patients diagnosed with kidney disease and their caregivers from their families. All the patients and caregivers who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. These patients included those diagnosed with chronic renal failure for at least 6 months; and who are on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) for at least 3 months. Patients with a history of depressive illness before the onset of renal failure, clinically and pathologically diagnosed cases of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, hepatic or uremic encephalopathy and patients with any neurological deficit (such as stroke and cerebral hemorrhage) were excluded from the study. The participants also included the caregivers of these patients. These caregivers are members of their families and who have not been diagnosed of depressive symptoms prior to the time they started providing care for the patient. Both patients and caregivers were at least 18 years old. These criteria were strictly followed to control potential bias and confounders.

The study received ethical approval of the Institutional Review Board at King Fahed Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eligible patients and caregivers were approached by researchers at the site. After an explanation of the study, written informed consent were obtained from each patient and caregiver. Patients were able to access research staff members who are not in charge of their treatment to withdraw from the study at any time.

Instrument

Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D) was used to screen the severity of depression.5 The questionnaire was administered according to the interview guide for the HAM-D. The degree of depression was classified as normal if with a score <6, scores from 7 to 17 as slightly depressed, from 18 to 24 as moderately depressed, and >25 as seriously depressed. The use of the HAM-D has been systematically evaluated in Arab countries. Hamdi et al concluded, in their study, that the HAM-D is sensitive to the severity of depression in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) culture. Saudi being an Arab and Islamic country, like the UAE, has very closely similar culture.6

Results

Depression and profile of patients

Table 1 presents the profile of the participants of the study. The participants of the study were composed of 51% male and 49% female. Majority (61%) of them were married, 17% were single, 8% were divorced, and 15% were widowed. A total of 77% were not employed. Majority (57%) of them had middle income, 35% had low income, and 7.9% had high income. About 71% of the participants had no family history of renal failure.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of the renal failure patients

Variable	N (%)
Gender
Male	116 (51.3)
Female	110 (48.6)
Marital status
Single	38 (16.8)
Married	137 (60.6)
Divorced	17 (7.5)
Widow	34 (15)
Employment status
Employed	53 (23.5)
Unemployed	173 (76.5)
Socioeconomic level
Low	80 (35.3)
Middle	128 (56.6)
High	18 (7.96)
Family history of renal failure
Yes	65 (28.7)
No	161 (71.2)
Duration of dialysis session (hours)
2	1 (0.4)
3	84 (37.2)
3–3.5	67 (29.6)
4	74 (32.7)

The percentage distribution of the prevalence of depression assessed through the use of the HAM-D tool among the participants with renal failure showed that 28% of the participants had mild depression, 26% moderate depression, 8% severe depression, and 7% very severe. Thirty-one percent of the participants were assessed to be normal (Table 2). Among the demographic profile of the patients, the socioeconomic status (SES) and the marital status were found to be associated with depression among renal failure patients with a p-value of <0.05 level of significance (Table 3).

Table 2.

Distribution of depression by HAM-D among the renal failure patients

Category	N (%)
Normal	71 (31.4)
Mild	64 (28.3)
Moderate	58 (25.6)
Severe	18 (7.96)
Very severe	15 (6.6)

Abbreviation: HAM-D, Hamilton rating scale for depression.

Table 3.

Determinants of depression among renal failure patients

Variable	Normal	Mild	Moderate	Severe	Very severe	p-value
Marital status
Single	6 (15.8)	17 (44.7)	8 (21)	3 (7.9)	4 (10.5)	0.003
Married	55 (40.2)	36 (26.8)	29 (21.2)	10 (7.3)	7 (5.1)
Divorced	5 (29.4)	5 (29.4)	4 (23.5)	3 (17.6)	0 (0)
Widowed	5 (14.7)	6 (17.6)	17 (50)	2 (5.9)	4 (11.8)
Employment status
Employed	21 (39.6)	12 (22.6)	13 (24.5)	2 (3.7)	5 (9.4)	0.3
Unemployed	50 (28.9)	52 (30)	45 (26)	16 (9.2)	10 (5.8)
Socioeconomic level
Low	20 (25)	23 (28.7)	15 (18.7)	11 (13.75)	11 (13.75)	0.007
Middle	43 (33.6)	37 (28.9)	38 (29.7)	7 (5.5)	3 (2.3)
High	8 (44.4)	4 (22.2)	5 (27.8)	0 (0)	1 (5.6)
Family history
Yes	21 (32.3)	16 (24.6)	19 (29.2)	4 (6.1)	5 (7.7)	0.8
No	50 (31)	48 (29.8)	39 (24.2)	14 (8.7)	10 (6.2)
Type of renal failure
Acute	0 (0)	1 (50)	1 (52)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.8
Chronic	71 (31.7)	63 (28.1)	57 (25.5)	18 (7.8)	15 (6.6)

Caregivers

Among the 105 caregivers, most were females (62%). The majority of the caregivers were unemployed (58%) and belonged to the middle socioeconomic class (69.5%). Majority of them were married (57%) and 8% were divorced or widowed (Table 4). Using the same assessment tool for depression, slightly more than half of the caregivers were assessed to also have depression (53%). Among these, 31% had mild depression, 14% had moderate depression, 8% had severe depression, but none of them were found to have very severe depression (Table 5). Depression was found to be significantly associated with SES with a p-value of 0.05 level of significance (Table 6) similar to the results found among the patients. Marital status that was found to be significantly correlated with depression among the patients, however, did not show significant correlation with depression among the caregivers. Further analysis showed no significant correlation between the prevalence of depression among the patients and their caregivers.

Table 4.

Characteristics of caregivers of renal failure patients

Variables	N (%)
Gender
Male	40 (38)
Female	65 (61.9)
Employment status
Employed	44 (41.9)
Unemployed	61 (58)
Socioeconomic level
Low	25 (23.8)
Middle	73 (69.5)
High	7 (6.7)
Marital status
Single	37 (35.2)
Married	60 (57)
Divorced	4 (3.8)
Widowed	4 (3.8)

Table 5.

Distribution of depression among caregivers of renal failure patients

Category	N (%)
No depression	49 (47)
Mild	33 (31.4)
Moderate	15 (14.4)
Severe	8 (7.7)

Table 6.

Determinants of depression among caregivers of renal failure patients

Variable	Normal	Mild	Moderate	Severe	p-value
Gender
Male	18 (45)	15 (37.5)	4 (10)	3 (7.5)	0.6
Female	31 (48.4)	17 (26.6)	11 (17.2)	5 (7.8)
Marital status
Single	19 (52.8)	9 (25)	6 (16.7)	2 (5.6)	0.63
Married	26 (43.3)	22 (36.7)	7 (11.7)	5 (8.3)
Divorced	3 (75)	0 (0)	1 (25)	0 (0)
Widowed	1 (25)	1 (25)	1 (25)	1 (25)
Employment status
Employed	19 (44)	18 (41.7)	4 (9.3)	2 (4.6)	0.14
Unemployed	30 (49.2)	14 (22.9)	11 (18)	6 (9.8)
Socioeconomic status
Low	6 (24)	8 (32)	8 (32)	3 (12)	0.05
Middle	39 (54.2)	22 (30.6)	7 (9.7)	4 (5.6)
High	4 (57)	2 (28.6)	0 (0)	1 (18.3)

Discussion

Prevalence of depression among the patients

Among the participants with kidney failure, 70% of them were found to have depression at varying levels. This finding is consistent with the findings of previous studies conducted among patients with CKD where depression was shown to be associated with the disease. The risk of depression among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was found to be four times higher than that in the general population.7 Several studies done in various countries showed high prevalence of depression at varying degrees among patients undergoing HD in Pakistan and Iran.8–11

According to many studies, depression seen in CKD patients can be attributed to several factors that include the reaction to the diagnosis and the nature of the treatment that the patient will undergo for a lifetime and the effect of these long-term treatments, such as compromised quality of life, job loss, and financial burden to the patient and the family.9–13 These reactions are compounded by the impact of depression, which is recognized to be an incapacitating disorder. The person suffering from depression further manifest their inability to perform their daily activities, such as the way they think, eat, sleep, and work. Symptoms can range from fatigue, feelings of hopelessness, restless, headaches, and suicide attempts among others.14 The symptoms of depression among these patients complicate their illness, affect their compliance to treatment, and their ability to cope. In a study conducted by Hedayati et al, they showed that death is twice as likely among ESRD patients on chronic HD with depression as compared with those without depression.2 They also mentioned that patients undergoing HD who were diagnosed with depression are at risk for a 30% increase in both cumulative hospital days and number of hospitalizations. Although depression has been found to be associated with CKD, it is despondent to note that it is not well-addressed among these patients.2 Most of the time, the patient and the family are more focused on the compliance to the treatment and do not recognize symptoms of depression as equally important. Findings of this study and other previous studies have shown the high prevalence of depression among patients with ESRD;3,7–43 hence, appropriate attention and management should be considered and integrated to address depression among these patients with ESRD.

Depression is the most widely acknowledged psychosocial factor seen in patients with CKD, and it has been associated with a poor outcome. Major depression occurs in 20%–30% of patients facing impending dialysis. The etiology of depression in this case is complex. Kidney disease causes exposure to many physical and psychological stressors: starting from severe symptoms from internal organs, pain, and insomnia, through the necessity to submit to a dietary regime, systematic dialysis, or change in lifestyle or so far played roles and deterioration of the quality of life. However, the development of depression adversely influences the general health of a patient and also the patient–doctor cooperation in treatment; it increases the duration and frequency of hospitalization and may cause cessation of kidney replacement therapy; it causes an increase in mortality in dialyzed patients and also increases the risk of committing suicide.15–19 Kidney disease itself is associated with a high frequency of both physical and psychological complications, with depression being at the top of the list with a frequency of 61.1%. It has been documented that depression worsens the perceptions of patients for their well-being, which ultimately affects their compliance with treatment regimens.20–22

Depression in CKD patients may be undertreated. Watnick et al reported that just 16% of HD patients with depression were receiving treatment. Addressing depression in CKD patients is important because it may improve other adverse outcomes, including poor nutritional status and treatment compliance associated with CKD.23 Very few studies have focused on the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in patients with CKD. The prevalence of depressive episodes in CKD patients is even higher than reported for other chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure.16,24–26 Patients on chronic HD with depression are twice as likely to die or require hospitalization within a year when compared with those without depression and are at risk for a 30% increase in both cumulative hospital days and number of hospitalizations.2,17

Demographic profile and depression

Marital status

This study found an association between the economic status and the marital status of the patients and the prevalence of depression. Similar findings have been reported by various studies that depression was higher among married patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) and HD.10 Another study reported that within the patients group, marital status (p<0.001) was found to be positively associated with moderate-to-severe depression in patients. Poorer marital adjustment has been seen from patients on HD compared with healthy individuals. Poor marital adjustment had been linked with depressive symptoms and anxiety.27 In a study done in Canada, 20% of the spouses of dialysis patients had “significant depressive symptoms.”28 Most studies performed within families of HD patients showed that more than half of the couples had evidence of marital disruption.29 Chowanec and Binik showed that dialysis patients and spouses had strong links between psychological distress and perceptions of marital strain.28 Chronic illness such as CKD in a couple may cause tension on usual marital roles. The patient’s ability to work may be compromised and further alters the individual’s roles as couples. Furthermore, the patients’ negative emotions may be bound for the spouse. The spouses who become caregivers may experience depression or hostility. Ultimately, sexual dysfunction can cause disruption in the dynamics of the relationship.29,30

Income and SES

Low income is significantly associated with depression among the patients in this study. The same results have been found from various studies. In a study conducted in Saudi Arabia, high percentage (75.7%) of depressed patients with PD had low monthly income (<7500 Saudi Riyals); this result is also similar to the findings of the studies done among patients on HD that showed depression was higher among HD patients who had lower economic status.31,32 CKD treatment is debilitating and causes a lot of strain on the patient including their families. Financial strain can seriously impact the compliance to treatment and meeting the family’s economic needs. However, studies that have assessed the relationship between survival and SES in patients with the CKD have suggested that higher SES was associated with improved survival, regardless of race.33

Depression among the caregivers

Zyada et al in their study done in Egypt among caregivers reported that caregivers of patients with terminal organ failure (hepatic, cardiac, and renal) experience high levels of burden, severe anxiety, and mild depression. Predictors of anxiety, depression, and burden include being the main caregiver, duration of caregiving, the caregiver’s employment status, perceived health, and impact on social activities.34 The caregivers face many difficulties including change in the sleep pattern, health, social activity, and change in holiday plans. Both patients and caregivers spend at least 3 days a week on dialysis, which restricts their social life and creates a feeling of dependency on the dialysis center.35 Hence, they are left with no choice but to make many modifications to their life style.36

Research has exposed that immense physiological, psychological, and financial costs associated with informal caregiving have increased stress and depression, worsened social and family life, physical illness, increased feelings of burden, and decreased quality of life.37–40 Caregivers miss days of work and more likely to quit or retire early.41

Caregivers for patients undergoing dialysis also experience depression, anxiety, fatigue, social isolation, relationship strains, physical, emotional, and financial strain.5,6,15,20,21,42 These caregivers who are expected to provide complex technical regimens experience stress from the added responsibility of taking over the medical treatments, dietary requirements, clinical appointments, and psychosocial issues.16,17,19 Despite these burden experienced by caregivers, they have not been provided the needed management to control depression and other impact of the caregiving burden. Depression among patients and caregivers have been neglected and under-prioritized over the patients’ management of CKD.

Studies done among caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses showed that emotional difficulties, such as depression, various anxiety-related symptoms, excessive medication use, and impaired quality of life, were found to be associated with caregiving for patients with chronic diseases.5,6,20,42 In these studies, caregivers who experienced these difficulties were found to have higher mortality rate than the non-caregiving controls. Report also revealed that only 56% of the caregivers have the knowledge on their risk for depression.43

Caregiving burden from chronic diseases such as CKD is experienced by those directly responsible for giving care, especially for patients who are family members. It has been noted that caregiver burden worsens when the patient has limited ability to care for himself due to functional and cognitive impairment secondary to the chronic disease. Other factors that increase the risk of depression among caregivers include the relationship between the caregiver and their career and the patient, the deteriorating behavior and psychological stance of the patient, gender, and adverse life events.17,19

Conclusion

In conclusion, CKD patients and their caregivers need to be educated on the high prevalence of depression among themselves and recognize the surrounding conditions that increase its likelihood to be developed, at the same time understand and consider its impact on their marital, social, and economic status.

Recommendation

Referral for psychological and social support for both the patient and the spouse caregiver should become an integral part of the management for patients with CKD even before the onset of depression.

The life-time journey to the HD centers can become innovative and creative in such a way that it becomes a venue for discovering or enhancing the marital relationship and support. It maybe possibly done when the HD venue is able to revolutionize treatment sessions into recreational and productive session at least for the caregiver.