title: Lack of association between plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels and depression in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depression is common in hemodialysis patients. Reduced DHEA-S levels have been shown to be associated with depression in general population. Abnormalities in hormone production and metabolism are found in hemodialysis patients. However, the association between DHEA-S levels and depression in hemodialysis patients has not been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which 80 patients under regular hemodialysis were studied, and their serum DHEA-S levels were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of depression in our studied hemodialysis population is 37.5% (30/80). The DHEA-S level was 1138.1+/-1216.9 ng/mL in male patients and 502.1+/-389.4 ng/mL in female patients. The levels were not significantly different between patients with or without depression (910.8+/-1127.1 ng/mL vs. 769.3+/-848.3 ng/mL, P=0.533). As compared to the non-depressed patients, the depressed patients were more likely to be male, with lower body mass index, consuming more alcohol, and with more co-morbidity. The prevalence of depression was not associated with age, educational background, smoking, duration of dialysis, hemoglobin, albumin, CRP, ferritin, and urea clearance (Kt/V and URR). The serum DHEA-S levels exhibited significant and independent associations with age, gender, diabetes mellitus, and the levels of serum albumin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggested a lack of association between plasma DHEA-S levels and depression in hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Heng-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chih-Ken
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: I-Wen
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chiao-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chin-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Mai-Szu
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate