The clinical impact of burnout among peritoneal dialysis patients

Background Peritoneal dialysis (PD) requires intensive daily self-management and may impose a substantial psychological burden on patients. However, the prevalence of burnout among PD patients and its association with clinical outcomes remain unclear. This study investigated the prevalence of burnout and anxiety among patients undergoing PD and their associations with clinical outcomes. Methods In this prospective observational cohort study, patients undergoing PD at National Taiwan University Hospital were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Patients were followed for transfer to hemodialysis (HD) and all-cause mortality. Associations were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results Among 183 patients who completed the questionnaires, 24.0% had emotional exhaustion and 19.7% had severe anxiety. During follow-up, high cynicism was associated with an increased risk of transfer to HD. In the age- and sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, high cynicism remained significantly associated with transfer to HD (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.47; 95% CI, 1.14–10.58; p = .029). In contrast, the association between high cynicism and all-cause mortality was attenuated after adjustment for age and sex and did not reach statistical significance (adjusted HR, 3.80; 95% CI, 0.78–18.58; p = .099). Conclusions Burnout and anxiety are common among patients undergoing PD. High cynicism was independently associated with an increased risk of transfer to HD, highlighting the potential importance of psychological well-being in PD care.