Síntomas depresivos en pacientes con enfermedad renal terminal en tratamiento con hemodiálisis en Valencia, Venezuela

Patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis are more susceptible to psychiatricdisturbances such as depression. Objective: To determine the occurrence of depressive symptoms in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing treatment at a hemodialysis unit. The Beck Depression Inventory was used, and its association with pathobiographic variables and signs of compliance with hemodialysis treatment. Design and methods: This is an exploratory, crosssectional, descriptive and correlational study. 72 patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis were studied, chosen randomly from a group receiving hemodialysis therapy between April and May 2004. Results and Conclusions: Most common symptoms of depression were: irritability (72.2%); unhappiness (63.9%); low libido (58.3%); insomnia (55.6%); pessimism (50%). 47.2% of the patients had some level of depression, the most frequent being mild and severe with 19.4% each one. Occurrence of depression was significantly higher in patients under 40 years of age. The number of patients with mild depression and irregular compliance with hemodialysis therapy was significantly higher than that of patients with mild depression and high compliance with hemodialysis therapy (Chi2 = 7; P< 0,01). No statistically significant association was found between depression level and interdialysis weight gain (Chi2 = 1,99; P < 0,05). Depression is common in patients with end-stage renal disease, which may affect negatively their survival.