Mental Health Symptoms and Receipt of Mental Health Care Among US Adults Diagnosed With Kidney Disease.

INTRODUCTION

Nationally representative estimates of mental health symptoms and services in adults with kidney disease are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the mental health status and use of health care among adults with and without kidney disease.

METHODS

We used data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. Diagnosed kidney disease is based on adults who reported ever being told by a doctor or other health professional that they had weak or failing kidneys. The survey question captures data on adults who are aware of having kidney disease and most likely have advanced kidney disease. Mental health measures examined were serious psychological distress (SPD), current symptoms of anxiety and depression, diagnosed anxiety and depressive disorder, prescription medication use for these disorders, and receipt of counseling. We used logistic regression models, with predicted marginal proportions, to calculate unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios, controlling for sociodemographic and health characteristics.

RESULTS

About 2.9% of adults reported having a diagnosis of kidney disease; prevalence varied by sociodemographic and health characteristics. The prevalence of SPD; current symptoms of anxiety or depression or both; history of diagnosed anxiety or depression or both; and receiving counseling and prescription use for these disorders were higher among adults with kidney disease than among adults without kidney disease. In multivariable models adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics, adults with diagnosed kidney disease remained more likely than adults not diagnosed with kidney disease to experience mental health conditions and receive counseling.

CONCLUSION

A survey of the US population found a higher prevalence of poor mental health and receipt of mental health care among people diagnosed with kidney disease than among people not diagnosed with kidney disease.