Associations of Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic with Patient Characteristics and Behaviors in CKD Patients: Findings from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Issue 8 (25th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dorans, Kirsten S.; Wright Nunes, Julie A.; Schaubel, Douglas E.; Sha, Daohang; Schrauben, Sarah J.; Nelson, Robert G.; Rao, Panduranga S.; Cohen, Debbie L.; Appel, Lawrence J.; Lash, James P.; Rahman, Mahboob; Feldman, Harold I.
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Appel Lawrence J. author non-byline.; Chen Jing author non-byline.; Cohen Debbie L. author non-byline.; Feldman Harold I. author non-byline.; Go Alan S. author non-byline.; Lash James P. author non-byline.; Nelson Robert G. author non-byline.; Rahman Mahboob author non-byline.; Rao Panduranga S. author non-byline.; Shah Vallabh O. author non-byline.; Unruh Mark L. author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: Kidney360. Volume 3:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1341
• Page End: 1349
• Publication Date: 2022-08-25
• Subjects: chronic kidney disease -- anxiety -- chronic kidney disease -- chronic renal disease -- COVID-19 -- disparity -- epidemiology and outcomes -- SARS-CoV-2; 616.61
• DOI: 10.34067/KID.0000222022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2641-7650

Abstract

Abstract : Several factors were associated with higher coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related anxiety. Higher COVID-19-related anxiety was associated not only with mask wearing but also with weight gain and less adherence to healthier lifestyles. Interventions are needed to support healthy behaviors in patients with CKD experiencing increased anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visual Abstract: Abstract : Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with anxiety and depression. Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased stressors on patients with CKD, assessments of anxiety and its predictors and consequences on behaviors, specifically virus mitigation behaviors, are lacking. Methods: From June to October 2020, we administered a survey to 1873 patients in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study, asking participants about anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined associations between anxiety and participant demographics, clinical indexes, and health literacy and whether anxiety was associated with health-related behaviors and COVID-19 mitigation behaviors. Results: The mean age of the study population was 70 years (SD=9.6 years), 47% were women, 39% were Black non-Hispanic, 14% were Hispanic, and 38% had a history of cardiovascular disease. In adjusted analyses, younger age, being a woman, Hispanic ethnicity, cardiovascular disease, household income <$20, 000, and marginal or inadequate health literacy predicted higher anxiety. Higher global COVID-19-related anxiety scores were associated with higher odds of reporting always wearing a mask in public (OR=1.3 [95% CI, 1.14 to 1.48], P <0.001) and of eating less healthy foods (OR=1.29 [95% CI, 1.13 to 1.46], P <0.001), reduced physical activity (OR=1.32 [95% CI, 1.2 to 1.45], P <0.001), and weight gain (OR=1.23 [95% CI, 1.11 to 1.38], P =0.001). Conclusions: Higher anxiety levels related to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated not only with higher self-reported adherence to mask wearing but also with higher weight gain and less adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors. Interventions are needed to support continuation of healthy lifestyle behaviors in patients with CKD experiencing increased anxiety related to the pandemic.