Study links depression and kidney disease

By Staff Writer

Individuals who suffer from depression may be at risk of developing kidney failure, according to new study.

The report, which will appear in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology, was conducted by researchers from the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. The results are based on a decade-long study of 5,785 people from the U.S. The participants were 65 years and older, and they were not yet on dialysis.

Researchers questioned the individuals about their depressive symptoms and conducted a variety of tests on their physical condition, including their risk factors for kidney and heart disease as well as their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

They found that the presence of depression was 20 percent more common among participants who had kidney disease. In addition, the emotional condition also predicted rapid decline in kidney function and hospitalizations that were prompted by acute kidney injuries.

The team of investigators will analyze the specific factors that may explain the link between the mental disorder and physical condition.

Adolescents who suffer from depression may want to seek treatment before they enter adulthood. Programs such as boarding schools and wilderness therapy are designed to provide help for troubled teens.