Relationship Between Appetite and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Objective We aimed at evaluating the association between appetite and symptoms of depression and anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and comorbidities in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Design A cross-sectional study was conducted. Setting The study was conducted in an outpatient HD service of a tertiary level academic hospital. Patients A total of 90 patients on HD were evaluated for appetite (during the past week, how would you rate your appetite?), symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]) and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HARS]), cognitive dysfunction (Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE]), and comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index). Main Outcome Measure Relationship between appetite and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and comorbidities was assessed. Results In 43 patients, the appetite was very good/good (group 1), in 22, it was fair (group 2), and in 25, it was poor/very poor (group 3). Mean and median BDI were significantly higher in group 3 as well as the percentage of patients with BDI ≥16. Mean and median HARS and the percentage of patients with HARS >13 were significantly higher in group 3. MMSE was significantly lower in group 3 as well as the percentage of patients with MMSE ≤23. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a dependence of appetite by age and BDI ( P = .007 and P = .002, respectively). Conclusions Anorexia is associated with older age and symptoms of depression in patients on HD.