Depression and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study based at Bugando Medical Centre, Northwestern Tanzania

INTRODUCTION: psychosocial distress such as depression is prevalent among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. It is often overlooked despite of reducing the patient´s quality of life. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression among CKD patients, whereby a practical sampling technique was used among patients attending Bugando Medical Centre, a tertiary level hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. A total of 376 CKD patients were recruited and interviewed by using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: the mean age of the participants was 52.78 years, ranging from 18 to 85 years, 67.02% were males; 33.24% were more than 60 years of age and 32.45% of the participants were attending hemodialysis at BMC Nephrology Unit. The prevalence of depression was 73.93%. Participants who were 53-96 months since diagnosis, were not affected by modification of lifestyle and who were not sexually active were less likely to develop depression. CONCLUSION: the results showed a high prevalence of depression among CKD patients. This emphasizes the need for measures such as earlier screening and management. Which would reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life of CKD patients.