Depression may increase the risk of kidney failure

According to a study published in the March issue of the American Society of Nephrology, scientists have found that depression may increase the risk of kidney failure in the future.

In his experiment, Dr. Willem Kop of Tilburg University, Netherlands, and colleagues studied 5,785 people in four counties across the United States, over a 10-year period. Study participants are aged 65 and older and have not undergone dialysis.

Scientists completed questionnaire surveys on depression signs and conducted other medical measures, including tests to measure glomerular filtration index (eGFR) and risk factors. for heart and kidney diseases. Later, they considered whether depression was a sign of kidney disease or other kidney-related diseases.

The analysis showed that depression is associated with the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the incidence of depression in people with kidney disease is 20% higher than for those who do not.

The study also showed that depression may foresee the subsequent rapid deterioration of kidney function, the beginning of end-stage kidney disease. When scientists correct the long-term effects of other medical measures, the predicted value of the effects of depression on kidney disease is still very high.

Dr Kop said scientists are analyzing factors that could explain the relationship between depression and the risks of kidney disease to make it clearer.

Depression is a common mental disorder that includes many symptoms, but the most common is profound sadness and the patient no longer cares or enjoys all that happens around or with the village. body. The patient always felt tired, lost hope in the future, thinking that the world around seemed always gloomy.

This disorder may occur at any time but is most common between the ages of 24 and 44. Currently 1 in 4 women or 1 in 10 men has been depressed at least once in their lives. Women are twice as likely to be depressed as men. This type of disease if treated early and properly, the rate of stable disease is quite high (70-80%).