Psychological distress among dialysis patients during the COVID-19 Omicron pandemic: risk and protective factors across hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis

AI Summary

High prevalence of psychological distress among dialysis patients during Omicron; insomnia most common (54.7%); peritoneal dialysis patients reported greater distress than haemodialysis patients.
Socioeconomic hardship, comorbidities and unhealthy behaviour (smoking, alcohol) were significant risk factors for depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia.
Complete vaccination, maintained functional independence and routine psychological assessment with supportive interventions and social safety nets were protective and recommended.

AI Summary

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the prevalence and severity of psychological distress among Taiwanese dialysis patients during the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak, compared differences between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, and identified risk and protective factors associated with mental health. Routine psychological assessment should be integrated into dialysis care, particularly for patients facing socioeconomic hardship or multiple comorbidities. Timely supportive interventions, together with strategies to maintain functional independence, ensure full vaccination coverage, and strengthen social safety nets, may help address psychological distress and enhance resilience in dialysis populations during public health crises.

Basic summary

Front Psychiatry. 2026 May 18;17:1710260. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1710260. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 245 dialysis patients (117 HD, 128 PD) at an academic medical center in central Taiwan. Data collected included demographic and clinical characteristics, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Pandemic Worsening Index (PWI). Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics, generalized linear modeling (GLM), and stepwise regression to identify significant predictors.

RESULTS: Insomnia was the most prevalent symptom (54.7%), followed by stress (41.2%), anxiety (40.4%), and depression (14.3%). PD patients reported significantly greater psychological distress than HD patients. Regression analyses identified unemployment, reduced household income, comorbidities, and unhealthy behaviors (smoking and alcohol use) as significant risk factors. Conversely, complete vaccination and independence in daily activities were significant protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Both HD and PD patients experienced substantial psychological burdens during the pandemic, though their stressors and coping mechanisms differed. Routine psychological assessment should be integrated into dialysis care, particularly for patients facing socioeconomic hardship or multiple comorbidities. Timely supportive interventions, together with strategies to maintain functional independence, ensure full vaccination coverage, and strengthen social safety nets, may help address psychological distress and enhance resilience in dialysis populations during public health crises.

PMID:42233003 | PMC:PMC13223369 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1710260

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