[The role of depression in the quality of life among patients undergoing renal substitutive therapy].
BACKGROUND
Depression is highly prevalent among patients with end-stage renal disease, nevertheless few patients are assessed or offered medical treatment to minimize its effects. This study assessed quality of life among these patients and studied the association between end-stage renal disease and depression.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study with 123 patients over 19 who were undergoing renal substitutive therapy. Quality of life and depression were assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form-36 and the Beck Depression Inventor. In order to measure the patients' metabolic state, we carried out medical and laboratory tests. Quality of life predictors were analyzed with multiple ordinal logistic regression models.


RESULTS
The highest scores from the generic core belonged to social functioning dimensions (62.7) and mental health (65.9). For the specific core, the highest scores were in dimensions associated with support offered by the dialysis team (78.2) and from social support networks (75.3). Depression was the most consistent predictor of quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of programs and measuring tools to measure quality of life prior to and during renal dialysis or hemodialysis, as well as a timely psychiatric evaluation, can be very useful in monitoring improvement, decline and response to anti-depressant treatment throughout the course of end-stage renal disease.
Morales-Jaimes
Rosalba
R
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Morelos, México.
Salazar-Martínez
Eduardo
E
Flores-Villegas
Francisco J
FJ
Bochicchio-Riccardelli
Tommaso
T
López-Caudana
Alma E
AE
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis