The Anxiety and Depression Levels in the Subjects Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Crosssectional Study

Background: The kidney is a retroperitoneal organ. It consists of hilum, renal vessels, nephrons (1). The functions of kidneys are excretion of waste, maintenance of acid base balance, fluid and electrolyte balance, regulation of blood pressure, red blood cell production, vitamin D production. The dialysis is done during the End stage renal disease with patients having GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) below 15. The dialysis done through the fistula, graft or the catheter is hemodialysis. A hemodialysis machine has a special dialyzer or an artificial kidney to clean blood. The anxiety and depression were commonly seen in the patient undergoing hemodialysis. The HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) is commonly used to assess the anxiety and depression levels in subjects undergoing hemodialysis. Aim: The aim of the study is to find the anxiety and depression levels in the subjects undergoing haemodialysis. Methodology: the subjects were taken from the dialysis unit, Nephrology ward from SVIMS hospital. A consent was taken from the subjects who were willing to participate in the study. The scores were marked for anxiety and depression by asking the patients who were undergoing hemodialysis using the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results: among the 50 samples, Among young adult group only 9 people have no anxiety, which is slightly higher than the expected count of 8. In middle aged group, 13 people have no anxiety, close to expected count and in older age group, there are smaller numbers of people with different anxiety level. The most common among people was slowing of daily activities and panic attacks at night. Among young adult group only 10 people have no depression, in middle aged 14 people have no depression and in old age 8 people have no depression. The chi square test shows that there is significant association between age and anxiety whereas there is no significant association between demographic data and depression or anxiety. Conclusion: The study revealed that only few individuals experienced anxiety and depression while undergoing hemodialysis. The most common problem encountered was slowing of activities post hemodialysis.