Renal transplant acceptance status, health-related quality of life and depression in dialysis patients.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and depression in chronic dialysis patients, accepted (n = 122) or rejected (n = 93) for renal transplantation (Tx), were compared, whereas dialysis patients with pending acceptance status (n = 86) were followed for a median time of 3.6 years to assess whether HRQOL or depression predicted the likelihood of receiving a transplant. Clinical significant depression was present in 30% of the study patients. Less depression and better HRQOL were associated with being on the waiting list for Tx after adjusting for comorbidity, age, gender and dialysis vintage. During follow-up, 55% of the dialysis patients in the group with pending acceptance were transplanted. The likelihood of receiving a renal graft was based on comorbidity and not on impaired HRQOL or depression. Follow-up studies should investigate whether improved renal health after Tx translates into further improvement of HRQOL and less depression. Whether clinical depression and impaired HRQOL will impact graft survival needs to be explored.