Depression among Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis at a Nephrology Department in Benghazi Medical Center, Libya.

Background: The number of End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients living on Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT) is increasing globally. Hemodialysis is the most prevalent KRT worldwide. Patients with ESKD in general, and especially those on hemodialysis, are affected by an increased incidence of mental, cognitive, and psychological dysfunction-related issues, of these issues, depression has the highest burden, with its detrimental impact on the general health of patients, aggravating malnutrition, decreasing compliance to treatment, adding increased stress on their caregivers, and increasing morbidity and mortality. This study analyzed the occurrence of depression in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) at Benghazi Medical Center (BMC) in Benghazi, Libya. Methods: A cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of depression among hemodialysis patients attending the nephrology department at Benghazi Medical Center, Benghazi, Libya, and its relation to some common socio-demographic factors, using Beck's Depression Inventory scale for depression conducted in September. Results: Forty-six (46) patients were included, the mean age of the patients was 48±14.3 years, with 28 (60.9%) male patients and 18 (39.1%) female patients; depression was observed in 22 (47.8%) patients, mean BDI score was 11.7±9.39; ranging from 0 to 43, female patients had a higher median score of 13 ranging from 1 to 43, male patients median score was 8 ranging from 0 to 25, illiterate patients had a median score of 25; ranging from 12 to 35, educated patients median was 8 ranging from 0 to 43. Conclusions: Depression was common in patients undergoing HD, and the rate of depression was significantly higher in female and illiterate patients.