OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the elderly on hemodialysis for chronic renal failure in a teaching hospital and to describe their levels of depression. METHODS: This is a descriptive exploratory study with 61 patients. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the geriatric depression scale (GDS) were used to collect the data. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and Spearman rho correlations. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 69.97±7.51. The majority was white (79%), married (72%), and male (57%). Approximate a quarter of the patients (26%) were illiterate. The mean depression score was 10.43±4.37, suggesting the presence of normal to slightly depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: There were statistically significant correlation coefficients between family monthly income and education (p value=0.004) and between depressive symptoms and illiteracy (p=0.028). This last finding indicates that the illiterate patients had more depressive symptoms, suggesting they have less adaptation capacity or resilience to cope with the disease and its implications.
Depression; Frail elderly; Renal insufficiency, chronic; Renal dialysis; Renal dialysis
