Abstract
Background: Depression is highly prevalent in End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and is the most common psychiatric disorder in this population. Depression is associated with a lack of adherence to hemodialysis (HD) treatment regimens and increased morbidity and mortality.
Methods: A descriptive secondary correlational analysis of 118 patients on chronic HD was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression and its relationship to adherence to blood pressure (BP) regimens (fluid adherence, HD and BP medication adherence).
Results: Approximately 80% of the sample was found to have moderate depression. Depression was found to be significantly related to BP medication nonadherence at baseline (r = .239, p = .01 and at 12 weeks (r = .20, p = .027).
Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of depression and its association with BP medication nonadherence, patients on chronic HD should be routinely assessed for depression and offered validated treatment regimens. Depression is a modifiable risk factor, and interventions that address depression in conjunction with adherence to BP regimens need to be tested in the HD population.
Keywords: Depression, hypertension, hemodialysis, fluid, medication adherence, chronic HD.
Graphical Abstract
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