THE IMPACT OF DEPRESSION ON CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT ON DISEASE PROGRESSION AND PATIENT WELL - BEING

Mahitha* and Jereena E.

ABSTRACT

The main characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is kidney damage that cannot be reversed and lasts longer than three months. It has serious medical, psychological, and social repercussions and affects more than 10% of the world's population. Stages of CKD develop, and therapy aims to manage consequences and limit the disease's progression. Dialysis or kidney transplantation is part of renal replacement therapy (RRT), which is required in the last stage (also known as end-stage renal disease, or stage 5). Among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), particularly those receiving dialysis, depression is a prevalent mental health concern. These patients combined psychological and physical strain results in somatic symptoms and a worse quality of life. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently experience depression and anxiety, which can impede functioning, cause sleep issues, or even trigger suicidal thoughts. Regretfully, depression often remains untreated and under diagnosed. In addition to ensuring survival, kidney failure patients' lives must be restored by raising their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). For CKD to be properly managed, patient well-being and functional status must be closely monitored. Heart disease risk is higher in those who suffer from depression. Cardiovascular diseases and depression may be exacerbated by persistent low-level inflammation. Kidney failure presents both physical and psychological difficulties for dialysis patients. Beyond only surviving, improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is crucial. It's critical to comprehend HRQoL's decline to manage these patients' suffering and death. Keeping an eye on patients' HRQoL, especially those with end-stage kidney disease, is vital. Assessing functional status and well-being helps optimize patient care.

Keywords: CKD, HRQoL, Depression, Hemodialysis, ESRD.