Risk Factors and Prevalence of Depression in Children with Paediatric Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Observational Study from India

Abstract Objective: To analyse risk factors for depression in children with paediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) visiting haemodialysis care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study, in which the study subjects were recruited from patients availing the facility of a dialysis unit at a tertiary care centre of Delhi India. The authors recruited 50 subjects who met the inclusion criteria. Child Depression Inventory (CDI) questionnaire was administered to subjects in language which they could easily understand by use of pen and paper. CDI scores, corresponding age- and sex-specific T-scores, were obtained from the table provided in CDI. The main outcome measure was to identify subjects with depression and analyse their associated risk factors. Results: Thirty-five out of 50 of the study participants were screened positive for depression. A positive correlation of depression was seen with female sex ( P = 0.005), height <3 rd centile ( P = 0.014), weight <10 th centile ( P = 0.017), hypertension ( P = 0.009), associated illnesses ( P = 0.043) and students of class 6 th and 9 th in this study group ( P = 0.046 and 0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Routine screening for depression should be done in all children with CKD, especially those with female sex, associated illnesses and those faltering on growth centile. CDI scoring should be done and if detected should be treated in conjunction with the psychiatrist.