A comparison of quality of life and depression in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients

Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem and characterized by a progressive loss of kidney function over time, leading to complications such as anemia, mineral and bone disorders, cardiovascular disease, and decreased quality of life (QoL). Depression is a common comorbidity in CKD patients. The aim of our study was to compare demographic and clinical data, QoL scales and depression scores in patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: This prospective study included 143 dialysis patients from Akdeniz University Nephrology Clinic. Of these, 44 HD and 34 PD patients completed the 6-month follow-up. QoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF scale, and depression levels were measured using the Beck Depression Scale (BDS). A comparative analysis was conducted of demographic, laboratory and clinical characteristics in relation to KRT, gender and depression levels. Results: Female patients were significantly younger than males (42 vs. 55 years, p=0.019) and had higher depression scores (19 vs. 13, p=0.031). PD patients demonstrated significantly higher hemoglobin levels compared to HD patients (10.95 vs. 10.2 g/dl, p=0.008). A trend toward higher phosphorus levels was observed in PD patients (5.1 vs. 4.5 mg/dl, p=0.050). No significant differences were found in age, gender, calcium, albumin, CRP, vitamin D levels, KRT duration, or QoL measures between the HD and PD groups. Phosphorus levels were also higher in the moderate/severe depression group than the mild depression group (5.2 vs. 4.3 mg/dl, p=0.036). Individuals who completed primary or secondary education but did not attend university had higher depression scores (19 points) compared to university graduates (11 points). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that women on dialysis have higher depression scores than men. Higher levels of education were associated with improved QoL and reduced depression, reflecting better disease management. Serum phosphate levels were elevated in moderate to severe depression groups. Furthermore, higher hemoglobin levels in PD patients compared to HD patients suggest that dialysis modality may affect anemia and QoL.