POS-530 ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS DURING COVID-19

Abstract

The current Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) presents a peculiar and unusual reality. It affects people certainly physically but also psychologically. Hemodialysis patients move to their center three times a week even during the confinement period.Indeed, in such context, they may experience reactions and phases of stress, anxiety and depression. Hence, it is important to study the psychological impact on them. A sample of hemodialysis patients in our unit completed a self-report survey while being treated. It included questions about current mental health and experiences with COVID-19 , refering to the Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale HADS. We have twenty hemodialysis beds. We were able to isolate two beds for patients with covid-19. During the second wave, we dialyzed 45 patients tested positive for covid-19 in the circuit reserved. Forty patients participated in the study. They were equally divided by gender, with an average age of 49.45 [25-77]. The analysis revealed that only one patient had definite anxiety symptoms , which is an unempolyed married female hemodialysed since two years. Two others had questionable anxiety or depressive symptoms ; A married woman and a single smoker man ,also unemployed and have been on hemodialysis for less than 5 years. Meanwhile, 10% of the studied patients holding history of psychiatric illness had no psychological symptoms. To adapt to the psychological impact, 50% tend to reduce the number and duration of their hemodialysis sessions. Otherwise, all patients wear their surgical masks. Temperature measurementwas systematic at the entrance as well as the washing of hands. In the long term, this health crisis is expected to significantly improve our understanding of mental health risk factors in chronic hemodialysis patients facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we would be able to implement effective prevention strategies to promote mental well-being .No need to stress if we respect the rules of hygiene and the wearing of masks for both patients and health care professionals .