Relationship of age and psychosocial factors with biological ratings in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis

Background and aims: Dialysis is a time-consuming procedure and may cause psychological distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between age, emotional state, life satisfaction, sexual functioning and the method of dialysis in patients suffering from end-stage renal failure. Methods: Eighty-two patients of 97 with end-stage chronic renal failure entered the study; 56 were under hemodialysis (HD), and 26 were under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Zung Depression Rating Scale (ZDRS), the Life Satisfaction Inventory (LSI), the Lasry Sexual Functioning Scale (LSFS), and a protocol aiming to register sociodemographic variables and variables considering the physical disorders were used. Results: No significant differences between groups were found in the ZDRS (HD patients: 40.7±8.2, CAPD patients: 41.88±10.44; p=0.57), LSI scores (HD patients: 87.9±14.7, CAPD patients: 87.03±5.25; p=0.7) and LSFS scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that LSI scores depended only on gender (females were less satisfied) and individual items on level of albumins and the presence of other physical disorders; ZDRS individual items depended on leukomatine level, gender, diabetes mellitus, albumins, age, creatinine and duration of disease; sexual functioning on age, and urea and sleep on albumin level (all with p<0.001). Discussion: No statistically significant differences were detected in depressive symptomatology, sexual function and life satisfaction between patients undergoing HD or CAPD. Some aspects of depressive symptomatology, sexual functioning and life satisfaction may be influenced by age, the kind of treatment and its effectiveness. Age was positively related with satisfaction from general quality of life, frequency of sexual activity, tiredness and feelings of usefulness.