Quality of Life and Depression Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients; A Tertiary Care Center Cross-Sectional Study

Essam Wael Zarei^1*Rana A Nablawi¹Lama S Alghamdi²Adnan E Alshaikh¹Abdullah M Alagha¹Nada T Alharbi³Abdulah H Ali¹Hassan A Khafaji¹Nabil A Alzahrani¹

• ¹Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
• ²Jeddah University, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
• ³Taibah University, Medina, Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious condition leading to progressive loss of kidney function and high mortality worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. It frequently coexists with hypertension and diabetes, and its progression is often accompanied by psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. These mental health burdens can impair treatment adherence, worsen outcomes, and reduce quality of life (QOL). Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among CKD patients, explore variations in depression and QOL across CKD stages, and assess the relationship between depression and QOL at different stages. The study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2024 including 95 non-dialysis CKD patients, diagnosed according to KDIGO 2012 criteria at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH). Pregnant women, dialysis patients, and those under 18 years were excluded. Contact information was obtained from electronic medical records, and consent was sought by phone. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), while health-related QOL was evaluated using the SF-12 score. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, including comorbidities and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), were also collected. Results Among the 95 patients, males predominated (58.9%), with half aged ≥60 years. Most were non-smokers (78.9%) and non-obese (45.3%). Hypertension (82.1%) and diabetes (74.7%) were the most common comorbidities. The median PHQ-9 score was 12, with 28.4% of patients classified as having moderate depression. Depression showed a significant negative correlation with both physical (PCS-12) and mental (MCS-12) QOL scores. Regression analysis indicated that depression was independently associated with reduced physical and mental health scores, alongside older age and female gender. Conclusion Depressive symptoms are common among CKD patients and significantly impair QOL. Risk factors such as chronic comorbidities, fatigue, and prior mental health history increase vulnerability. These findings underscore the need for routine mental health screening and tailored interventions in CKD care. Future research should clarify causal relationships and guide more targeted public health strategies.