Abstract: Objective We investigated the prevalence of depression and its related factors in elderly patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in order to provide effective intervention strategies. Methods A total of 177 cases of elderly MHD patients were divided into depression group and non-depression group according
to the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Their basic information and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Results The prevalence of depression was 27.68% in the 177 elderly MHD patients. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistical significances between the two groups in gender (χ2=4.731,
P=0.030), education level (χ2=10.767, P=0.001), hemoglobin (t=-2.255, P=0.026), daily living activities including daily living physical activities (OR 5.625, 95% CI 2.695～11.740) and daily living instrumental activities (OR 4.950, 95% CI 2.447～10.009, P＜0.001), gait balance (OR 4.950, 95% CI 2.447～10.009, P＜
0.001), vision (OR 0.160, 95% CI 0.059～0.431, P＜0.001), constipation (OR 2.913, 95% CI 1.463～5.798, P=0.002), nutrition status including malnutrition risk (OR 8.261, 95% CI 1.865～36.582, P＜0.001) and malnutrition (OR 24.117, 95% CI 5.069～114.733, P＜0.001), social support conditions including objective support (t=-2.876, P=0.005), subjective support (t=-2.419, P=0.017) and support utilization (t=-3.505, P=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that low education (OR 0.178，95% CI 0.071～0.444, P＜0.001), impaired daily living physical activities (OR 2.644, 95% CI 1.026～6.815, P=0.044), abnormal nutrition status including malnutrition risk (OR 11.475, 95% CI 2.247～58.609, P=0.003) and malnutrition (OR 11.920, 95% CI 2.141～66.348, P=0.005), low degree of social support utilization (OR 0.740, 95% CI 0.611～0.895, P=0.002) and constipation (OR 2.729, 95% CI 1.102～6.758, P=0.030) were the independent risk factors for depression in elderly MHD patients. Conclusion The higher prevalence of depression impacts directly on the quality of life in elderly MHD patients. Effective treatment and nursing care are the ways to improve the quality of life and prolong life in such patients.

Key words: Maintenance hemodialysis, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Depression, Risk factor