Functional impairment, depression, and life satisfaction among older hemodialysis patients and age-matched controls: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare change over time in functional impairment, depression, and life satisfaction among older dialysis patients and age-matched controls.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study over 3 years.


METHODS
Urban and rural communities throughout Georgia.


METHODS
One hundred thirteen prevalent renal failure patients on in-center hemodialysis and 286 controls.


METHODS
Ordinal functional impairment index and life satisfaction rating, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.


RESULTS
Dialysis patients, compared with controls, reported significantly more functional impairment at baseline, and also at follow-up after adjusting for baseline impairment and covariates. Dialysis patients had higher depression scores at baseline, and also at follow-up after adjusting for baseline depression and covariates. In contrast, dialysis patients reported lower life satisfaction at baseline than did controls, but the two cohorts were not significantly different on reported life satisfaction at follow-up, after adjusting for baseline life satisfaction and race. In both cohorts, functional impairment and depression were significantly related.


CONCLUSIONS
Older dialysis patients' life satisfaction at a 3-year follow-up, which was similar to life satisfaction among age-matched controls, indicates the value of delivered dialysis care; the value of this care would be increased by reducing excess functional impairment in these patients.
Kutner
N G
NG
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Brogan
D
D
Hall
W D
WD
Haber
M
M
Daniels
D S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis