【Abstract】Objective We investigated the incidence of depression symptoms and the related factors in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, to understand the useful measures for the improvement of their life quality. Methods Sixty-four outpatients (male 24, female 40) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with MHD were recruited from the Dialysis Center of Huashan Hospital to participate in a cross-sectional study. Depression manifestations were assessed by Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS). If SDS score=50 points, the patient was thought as suffering from depression symptoms. Patients were divided into non-depression group (non-D group) and depression group (D group) according to the SDS score obtained. Their basic clinical information, demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters were also collected. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package of SPSS 12.0. Results Based on the SDS, 39 cases (60.9%) were identified as having depression symptoms in this dialysis center. More patients with the marital status of single person and higher C-reactive protein were found in D group than in non-D group [14/39 vs. 3/25, P＜0.05 and (3.22±3.39)mg/L vs. (2.58±2.81)mg/L, P＜0.05, respectively]. Hemoglobin and serum albumin were lower in D group than in non-D group[(101.0±18.7)g/L vs. (109.2±14.8)g/L, P＜0.05 and (38.7±3.6)g/L vs. 40.5v2.7g/L, P＜0.05, respectively]. Multifactor logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status and hemoglobin were the main related factors. The regression equation was Ln (P/(1-P))=6.611+1.627 X1-0.061 X2. There were no significant differences in age, gender, hemodialysis period, educational level, hemodialysis adequacy and calcium-phosphate metabolism between the two groups. Conclusions Depression symptoms were frequently seen in MHD patients, and were related to marital status of single person, anemia, chronic inflammation condition and nutrition status. Marital status and hemoglobin level may be the important factors related to depression symptoms.
