Abstract: FR-PO444
Plasma B Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF) Levels Predict the Upcoming Depressive Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients
Session Information
- Hemodialysis: Quality of Life, Symptoms, Palliative Care
November 03, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis
Authors
- Jang, Woojin, Veterans Healthcare Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
- Lee, Dong-Young, Veterans Healthcare Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
Background
B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine that plays a role in B cells’ maturation, homeostasis, and differentiation and is associated with mental disorders. Depression can often be caused by inflammation, with various cytokines playing a role. Chronic inflammation is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients, and depression is also prevalent among them. We hypothesize that BAFF may predict upcoming depressive symptoms in HD patients, so we evaluated their association.
Methods
Among 643 subjects who enrolled in a multi-center prospective HD cohort study, we investigated 72 patients who tested plasma BAFF levels, performed initial and follow-up Beck Depression Inventory, and had no depressive symptoms at first. We conducted a univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis to calculate the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)) between upcoming depressive symptoms and BAFF levels.
Results
In both univariate and multivariate analyses, a 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in BAFF was significantly linked with a higher risk of future depressive symptoms. The HR was 1.437 (95% CI 1.034-1.996) and 1.699 (95% CI 1.037-2.784), respectively. Patients with higher BAFF levels experienced more depressive symptoms than those with lower BAFF levels for 2 years (p = 0048).
Conclusion
In HD patients, elevated levels of plasma BAFF showed a significant association with depressive symptoms up to two years later.
Hazard ratios of plasma BAFF and APRIL for depressive symptoms
| HR | 95% CI | HR | 95% CI | |
| BAFF | 1.437 | 1.034-1.996 | 1.699 | 1.037-2.784 |
| APRIL | 0.843 | 0.570-1.245 |
Table 1. The baseline characteristics of all subjects and with or without depressive symptoms