Depression, anxiety, and quality of life among kidney donors before and after the kidney donation

Dear Editor, Living kidney donation is a multifaceted issue involving ethical, moral, and medical considerations. It is carried out with the belief that the potential short- and long-term risks to the donor are justified by the psychosocial benefits of altruism and the recipient’s improved health. Research highlights that kidney donation can have positive psychological effects, such as strengthened relationships and enhanced self-esteem.[1] Chopra et al., in an interesting article published in the December 2024 issue of the journal, reported that kidney donors experienced increased levels of depression and anxiety post-donation. Before the procedure, 26% had mild depression, 10% had moderate depression, and 16% reported mild anxiety. After donation, depression levels rose, with 32% experiencing mild symptoms, 10% moderate, and 2% severe. Anxiety also increased, with 24% showing mild and 16% moderate symptoms. Despite these statistically significant changes, the authors emphasized that the clinical impact remains uncertain. Higher pre-donation depression and anxiety were strong predictors of lower post-donation quality of life, emphasizing the need for mental health assessments and support before transplantation.[2] We want to add that the increase in depressive symptoms could potentially be due to increased mental fatigue and somatization resulting from reduced renal function and glomerular filtration rate.[3] Postoperative complications and length of hospital stay may also contribute to increased depression and anxiety in the patients.[4,5] While living kidney donation is often associated with psychosocial benefits, such as improved relationships and self-esteem, it also presents psychological challenges, particularly concerning depression and anxiety. The increase in depressive symptoms and anxiety post-donation highlights the need for comprehensive mental health assessments and support systems for donors. Factors such as mental fatigue, somatization due to reduced renal function, and postoperative complications may contribute to these psychological effects. Addressing these concerns through pre-donation screening, counseling, and post-donation follow-up care is essential to ensure the overall well-being of kidney donors. Authors contributions All authors contributed to conceptualization, writing, and editing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.