Treatment of neuropathic pain with either pregabalin or gabapentin effectively ameliorates uraemic itch.

Treatment of depression with sertraline is associated with improvement of the HRQoL and symptoms related to depression.

Depression, MCS score and employment status were the most important predictors of sleep quality in HD patients.

Background. Sleep quality (SQ) is a significant problem in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, yet the underlying factors are not well known. In addition, depression and impaired quality of life (QOL) are main problems in PD patients. We measured the SQ and investigated the effect of depression, QOL, and some other factors on SQ in PD patients. Methods. Data were collected from 124 PD patients (59 male, 65 female) in our center. Demographic data and laboratory values were analyzed. All patients were asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Index (BDI), and SF-36. Results. Mean age of the patients was 52.6 ± 14.3 year. The prevalence of poor SQ was 43.5%, defined as global PSQI score >5. The prevalence of depression was 25.8%, defined as BDI scores >17. The poor sleepers had higher BDI scores, poor QOL, older age, and lower duration of PD compared to the good sleepers. There was not a difference in hemoglobin, albumin, C-reactive protein, Kt/V, urea, creatinine, lipid parameters, gender, marital status, cigarette smoking, mode of PD, and comorbidity between poor and good sleepers. The global PSQI score was correlated negatively with both PCS and MCS (r = −0.414, r = −0.392, respectively; p < 0.001) and correlated positively with BDI scores and age (r = 0.422, p < 0.001 and r = 0.213, p = 0.018, respectively). In multivariate analysis, only BDI scores were found to be factors that could predict the patients being poor sleepers. Conclusion. Poor SQ is a significant problem in PD patients, and we found an association with depression, QOL, and age. Regular assessment and management of SQ may be important especially with PD patients who are depressive and elderly to increase QOL.

Few studies investigating the effects of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, and sleep quality exist in the literature. We aimed to determine differences between APD and CAPD modalities with respect to these parameters. Twenty APD and 48 CAPD patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Biochemical values were measured at outpatient evaluation. A modified postsleep inventory was used to evaluate sleep quality. Health-related quality of life and depression were evaluated by the Short Form of Medical Outcomes Study and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Automated peritoneal dialysis and CAPD patients were compared in terms of sleep quality, HRQoL, and depression. Our results showed that there were no significant differences between APD and CAPD in any of the studied parameters. Moderate or severe sleep problems were found in 60% and 69% of the APD and CAPD patients, respectively. Mean HRQoL scores for any of the 8 Short Form of Medical Outcomes Study-36 domains were similar in the 2 groups. The mean physical component score was 51.1 ± 21.2 and 48.9 ± 18.2 in APD and CAPD patients, respectively (P=0.672). The mean mental component score was 47.5 ± 20.1 in APD patients, whereas it was 42.4 ± 19.5 in CAPD patients (P=0.291). Depression was detected in 70% of APD and 62.5% of the CAPD patients. The mean Beck Depression Inventory scores were also similar in the 2 groups. This study showed that HRQoL, sleep quality, and depression were similar in APD and CAPD patients.

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Background. Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common problem in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In contrast to basic and clinical research in the field of male SD, the sexual problems of women have received relatively little attention and are often under-treated. We evaluated sexual function in female ESRD patients using the validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and relation with QOL, depression, and some laboratory parameters. Methods. 117 ESRD patients (85 peritoneal dialysis [PD], 32 hemodialysis [HD], mean age 48.5 ± 13.9 years) were enrolled. All patients had been dialyzed (PD or HD) for more than three months. In addition, an age-matched married control group of 48 subjects (mean age 47.1 ± 12.7 years) were enrolled in the study. All patients were asked to complete three questionnaires of the FSFI, Beck Depression Index (BDI) and SF-36. Results. Female sexual dysfunction was found in 80 of the 85 peritoneal dialysis patients (94.1%) and all of the HD patients (100%), but in only 22 subjects of the control group (45.8%). A significant negative correlation was found between total FSFI score and age (r = −0.288, p = 0.002), BDI score (r = −0.471, p < 0.001), mental-physical component score of QOL (r = −0.463, p < 0.001 and r = −0.491, p < 0.001, respectively) in PD and HD patients. The rates of depression were 75.3, 43.8, and 4.2% in the PD and HD patients and control subjects, respectively. Conclusion. Female sexual dysfunction is common problem ESRD. This problem especially related with depression and QOL. Thus, sexual function should be evaluated in female subjects to determine its impact on quality of life.

Spironolactone reduced both proteinuria and urinary TGF-beta1 excretion in CKD patients. We consider that spironolactone would be beneficial to prevent progression of renal fibrosis in CKD.