Dialysis Patients at Increased Risk of Pain, Depression

Depression and pain isn't good for anyone. However, a new study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology shows that for dialysis patients, it can be an even more deadly combination than usual.

For the study, researchers examined 286 dialysis patients who completed surveys every month for 2 years between 2009 and 2011. Researchers found that symptoms of depression increased the risk of missing a dialysis treatment by up to 21 percent. Furthermore, it also raised the risk of emergency department visits by 24 percent, hospitalization rates by 19 percent and overall mortality risk by 40 percent.

Sixteen percent of dialysis participants with severe pain were also more likely to undergo abbreviated dialysis treatments, visit the emergency department and be hospitalized.

"Patients receiving chronic hemodialysis experience a very high burden of physical and emotional symptoms. While not all symptoms are easily treated, there are effective therapies for depressive symptoms and pain," said lead study author Steven Weisbord of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. "These findings underscore the need to determine whether the effective treatment of these symptoms, in addition to making patients feel better, can also reduce utilization of healthcare resources and costs and improve patient-centered outcomes."