BMC Nephrology (Feb 2022)

Psychological distress and associated factors among kidney transplant recipients and living kidney donors during COVID-19

  • Sobhana Thangaraju,
  • Yeli Wang,
  • Terence Kee,
  • Ping Sing Tee,
  • York Moi Lu,
  • Jing Hua Yong,
  • Quan Yao Ho,
  • Ian Tatt Liew,
  • Fiona Foo,
  • Natelie Kwan,
  • Eleanor Ng,
  • Xia He,
  • Constance Lee,
  • Shannon Baey,
  • Jenny Leong,
  • Judy Tan,
  • Rupesh Madhukar Shirore,
  • Tazeen Hasan Jafar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-022-02698-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant psychological distress globally. Our study assessed the prevalence of psychological distress and associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic among kidney transplant recipients and kidney donors. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 497 participants (325 recipients and 172 donors) was conducted from 1st May to 30th June 2020 in Singapore. The survey questionnaire assessed knowledge levels of COVID-19, socio-demographic data, health status, psychosocial impact of COVID-19, and precautionary behaviors during the pandemic. Psychological distress was defined as having anxiety, depression, or stress measured by the validated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Linear regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with higher psychological distress. Results The prevalence of psychological distress was 14.3% (95% confidence interval: 11.5–17.6%) in the overall population; it was 12.8% (9.79–16.6%) in recipients and 13.4% (9.08–19.6%) in donors with no significant difference (P = 0.67). Younger age (21–49 vs. ≥50 years), unmarried status, non-Singapore citizen, worse health conditions, and worrying about physical and mental health were associated with higher psychological distress. Malays (versus Chinese), taking precautionary measures (hand sanitization), and receiving enough information about COVID-19 were associated with lower psychological distress. No interactions were observed between recipients and donors. Conclusions At least one in ten recipients and donors suffer from psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. Focused health education to younger adults, unmarried individuals, non-Singapore citizens, and those with poor health status could potentially prevent psychological distress in recipients and donors.

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