Pacientes em tratamento de hemodiálise: níveis de ansiedade e depressão em tempos de pandemia de Covid-19

Abstract

Introduction: Hemodialysis (HD) is a renal replacement treatment for patients with end-stage Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The disease and treatment impose a new lifestyle on the patient what is to much stressful and emotional burden. With the pandemic of COVID-19, which required drastic precautionary measures and social isolation, these patients were surprised with another one risk factor for their health condition. Aim: To investigate the levels of depression and anxiety in CKD patients performing HD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out with patients undergoing HD treatment in a specialized nephrology clinic that serves patients from all over the Araguaia Valley, which is located in the municipality of Barra do Garças -MT. Two instruments of data collection were used being them the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), which were applied online or in person after the patient accepted to participate in the research. Results: Among the investigated, 64,61% of the patients presented some degree of depression, 18.8% being severe depression. Regarding anxiety, 51.6% showed some sign of anxiety, 9.4% of them were identified as severe anxiety. Situations such as contracting COVID-19 or going through the mourning process for the loss of a friend or relative were identified in patients who had some level of depression or anxiety. Conclusion: The evidence provided here reinforces the importance that should be given to the care of mental health of patients with CKD, especially those who perform HD, because they have an emotional burden already suffered by the affliction of the disease and the consequences generated by the treatment.