Post‐dialysis fatigue is not associated with perceived stress in patients on hemodialysis

Introduction: This study explored the relationship between post dialysis fatigue (PDF) and dialysis recovery time (DRT) with perceived stress and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 223 patients on hemodialysis (HD). We collected demographic, laboratory and clinical variables [including depression and perceived stress levels measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)] to explore their association with PDF and DRT. Findings: Of the total, 120 patients suffered PDF and 103 did not. Groups differed in Charlson comorbidity index, dialysate sodium concentration, dialysate temperature, and BDI score, but had similar perceived stress levels. Logistic regression identified BDI and Charlson scores as independently associated with PDF. Of 130 patients, DRT was ≤ 120 min, and in 73, it was > 120 min, with higher BDI scores in the latter. Stratifying by perceived stress levels showed no significant differences in PDF or DRT. However, PDF and DRT were higher in patients with BDI > 17, and perceived stress levels strongly correlated with BDI. Conclusion: While PDF and DRT are not significantly linked to perceived stress, they are strongly associated with depression levels in HD patients.