MO916: Anxiety and Depression Among Dialysis Centre Staff and Haemodialysis Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shutov Evgeny , Osipova Maria , Lukina Ekaterina , Avedisova Alla , Osipov Vladimir 
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In Moscow, the nephrological service is organized as follows: (1) specialize centres of haemodialysis in which patients with COVID-19 are treated and (2) ordinary departments of haemodialysis, in which there are no patients with coronavirus infection, but patients with COVID-19 are identified in them and these patients are sent for treatment to specialize departments. This study was aimed at examining the level of anxiety and depression in patients on haemodialysis in comparison with a group of medical staff (doctors and nurses) working in the ordinary department of haemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, we were compared both groups with the level of anxiety and depression in the general population of healthy people who lived in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the results of meta-analysis of 2189 current studies of depressive disorders during the pandemic [1].

METHOD

We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate the level of anxiety and depression. Before the study, informed consent was taken from all responders to participate in the study, as well as permission to publish the results. In this study, we included 40 stable patients receiving haemodialysis (15 women and 25 men). The average age was 58.6 years (45–84 years). Time spent on haemodialysis: up to 1 year: 9 patients; up to 5 years: 16 patients; and &gt;5 years: 15 patients. Average 4.9 years (1–20 years). The main causes leading to the end stage of renal failure were: polycystic disease (24%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (20%), hypertension (16%), glomerulonephritis (23%) and others (17%). The group of medical staff consisted of 43 people (16 doctors and 27 nurses). The ratio of men and women is 1: 3 and 1: 5.7, respectively. The average age of doctors is 50.3 ± 15.6 years; nurses 34.1 ± 8.2 years.

For comparison, we used materials from the meta-analysis [1], where the prevalence of depression was 15.97% and anxiety was 15.15% as the consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic for the mentally healthy population.

RESULTS

In the group of patients, anxiety and depression were detected in 16 patients (40%), in 4 patients (10%) ––clinically significant. By the time spent on haemodialysis: up to 1 year: 4 patients (without clinically significant manifestations); up to 5 years: 7 patients (3 with clinically significant manifestations); and &gt;5 years: 6 patients (1 with clinically significant manifestations). In the group of medical staff, anxiety and depression were detected in 13 people (32.5%), of which clinically significant in 4 people (9.3%). Anxiety and depression were found in 6 doctors (37.5%) (2 men and 4 women) and in 7 nurses (25.9%) (1 man and 6 women). Clinically significant manifestations were noted in 2 doctors and 2 nurses. In the group of patients, anxiety and depression were observed in 1 young patient, in 5 middle-aged patients and in 10 elderly patients (60–74 years old). In the group of medical workers, an increased level of anxiety and depression were observed in 10 young people and in 3 middle-aged people.

CONCLUSION

Patients on haemodialysis and dialysis centre staff, the levels of anxiety and depression were twice times higher compared with the data of anxiety and depression in healthy populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients on haemodialysis and medical staff had same level of anxiety and depression. The level of anxiety and depression among doctors was significantly higher than in nurse; this difference can be explained by a small sample, as well as a higher level of education among doctors and a tendency to reflect.