Abstract
Hemodialysis is a necessary treatment for end-stage kidney disease patients. It imposes undergoing three sessions of dialysis per week in a specialized center. Amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, precautionary measures were mandatory in all dialysis facilities and may have negatively impacted patients’ well-being. This study aimed to uncover the scale of this effect. We performed a cross-sectional study of all patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in two dialysis units (one urban and another rural). Patients with Alzheimer’s disease were excluded. Patients filled a questionnaire including information on socio-demographics, factors related to the dialysis facility, and the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on their mental health. A total of 72 patients responded. Their median age was 70 (60.79) years. Of them, 68% were males, 71% were married, and 10% were living alone. Following the pandemic, 35% felt more anxious, with a higher incidence of anxiety in the rural unit (p=0.021). Half of them felt very limited in their relationships, and 29% were isolated from their families. In total, 98% of patients were satisfied with the staff support. The imposed preventive measures were perceived as very strict in 27% of the surveyed patients. The majority of the urban group were bothered for not eating during the session, and they felt significantly more stress than the rural group (p=0.001). The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic increased anxiety among hemodialysis patients from a rural setting. Stress was more prevalent in the urban group and most probably related to limitations in eating during sessions. The majority were satisfied with staff support.
Highlights
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020 and has spread widely around the world
This study aimed to analyze the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this frail population of HD patients and unveil the factors associated with poor mental health
Two patients had a social conflict. No patient from both centers suffered from COVID-19
Summary
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020 and has spread widely around the world. In an internet survey of adults (n >1400) from the United States (US) in April 2020, psychological distress, including depression, hopelessness, and nervousness, was present in 14 percent of surveyed individuals [4]. Another recent survey suggested that the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the US was more than 3-fold higher during COVID-19 compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era [5]
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