Postdialysis recovery time is extended in patients with greater self-reported depression screening questionnaire scores

Introduction: Most patients take time to recover after a hemodialysis (HD) session. It has been suggested that recovery time is associated with intradialytic hypotension and rapid solute clearances. Other studies have reported a linkage to depression. We investigated the association between recovery time and intradialytic hypotension and depression. Methods: In five UK HD units, we screened for depressive symptoms using the Beck depression inventory-II, Patient Health Questionnaire, and recorded sessional blood pressures and Kt/Vurea. Findings: Seven hundred and one HD patients were studied; 63.6% male, mean age 64.1 ± 16.6 years, 33.5% diabetic. About 24.1% recovered in 1 hour were more likely to be female, have high self-reported Beck depression inventory-II scores, a past medical history of depression, and be living without a partner. Longer recovery times were also associated with very low postdialysis systolic blood pressures (