Caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety among relatives of patients undergoing hemodialysis in a tertiary care center in South India

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects an estimated 115 million individuals in India, many of whom rely on unpaid caregivers who are often physically overwhelmed and emotionally unsupported. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety among relatives of patients undergoing hemodialysis. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center over a six-month period, involving 100 caregivers. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12), depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Among caregivers, 70% experienced moderate to high burden, while 57% had depressive symptoms and 57% had anxiety symptoms. Burden correlated positively with depression (ρ = 0.62) and anxiety (ρ = 0.59). Caregivers without social support had higher burden scores (p = .009). These findings highlight the need for caregiver-centered mental health screening and psychosocial interventions in chronic illness management.