The impact of anxiety and depression on the quality of life of hemodialysis patients in a sample from Somalia

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present study was to determine the quality of life (QoL), depression, and anxiety levels in kidney failure patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment and examine the impact of depression and anxiety on the QoL of these patients in a sample from Somalia. METHODS: A sample of 200 patients with kidney failure who were undergoing HD treatment approximately two to three times a week was included. All participants were administered a sociodemographic data form, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-QOL-BREF). Subjects on HD for less than 3 months prior to the study date were excluded. RESULTS: Of the kidney failure patients, 200 patients, aged 18–86 years (median: 50.0; IQR: 25.0), consented and participated in the study. 58.5% of the participants were men; 64% had a kidney failure duration of 1–5 years, and 52.6% had a HD duration of 1–5 years. Mild symptoms of depression were found in 48%, while moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were found in 13.5% of HD patients. Depression and anxiety were found to be significantly correlated with overall QoL, physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental well-being. There were similar predictors of overall QoL, physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental well-being relating to socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, family income, anxiety, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the important role that anxiety, depression, and family income have in HD patients' QoL in Somalia. It highlights the significance of regular emotional assessment and efficient management in order to increase patient satisfaction. Future studies with larger samples are necessary for more accurate statistical analysis. To optimize patient care, a multidisciplinary healthcare team is recommended.