A Study to Assess the Psycho Social Profile of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Reporting to Pgimer, Chandigarh, India

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) is emerging as a worldwide public health problem. Due to costly treatment modalities like dialysis and transplantation, chronic kidney disease patients have to undergo lot of psycho-social stress.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the psycho social profile of the patients suffering from CKD and to identify the factors, if any leading to delayed treatment thereof.

Materials&Method: 300 patients of CKD stage 4&5 were enrolled. They were subjected to exit interviews in the form of a structured questionnaire to assess their psychosocial profile. Results: The Mean age was 42.15+- 14.6 years with M:F sex ratio of 3.5:1. The mean education was matriculation (68%), mean income Rs.10,000/- per month and mean duration of illness 1 year. Majority lived in nuclear families (68%) and wife and mother were the predominant donors (52%). 80% were suffering from diabetes Mellitus type II and 20% had associated hypertension as well. Mild anxiety was noted in 69.7% and mild depression in 59% of the cases.

Discussion&Conclusion: Comparable to other studies, in present study too depression and anxiety were most frequent psychological problems. A high prevalence of CKD was noted in low socioeconomic group which is a positive factor for depression. Strategies should be directed at routine screening and counseling to identify psychological problems and a multidisciplinary interventional support should be provided.