Patient-reported mental health problems and clinical outcomes in adults with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease

Background: Mental health affects well-being and physical health. Among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), mental health (MH) problems are common and can induce adverse clinical outcomes. We examined the association between patient-reported MH problems and clinical outcomes in adults with non-dialysis CKD.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 1,879 participants from the KNOW-CKD (KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With CKD). Patients-reported MH problems were determined using four indicators of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaire. We described the cross-sectional differences in health-related quality of life according to MH problems. We prospectively evaluated the hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause death and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) according to the MH problems for a median follow-up of 6.4 years.

Results: The participants (mean age 53 years; 61.6% male) had patient-reported MH problems of inadequate sleep duration (17.4%), subjective distress (27.3%), depressive symptoms (13.2%), and suicidal ideation (16.8%). In the fully adjusted Cox proportional model, poor MH (≥2 problems) was associated with a high risk of ESKD (HR, 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.08) and death (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.04-2.32) compared with good MH. Furthermore, the single indicator of suicidal ideation was associated with a high risk of ESKD (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.11-1.69) and death (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.34-2.92).

Conclusion: Patient-reported MH problems are common in adults with CKD. Poor MH and only suicidal ideation are associated with a high risk of ESKD and early death. Age and sex modify the association between poor MH and adverse clinical outcomes in non-dialysis CKD.