Abstract: Objective To explore the association between performance-based physical function and depressive symptoms in the elderly patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing peritoneal dialysis(PD). Methods Physical function was assessed by handgrip strength (HGS), timed up and go (TUG) test, 5-repetition sit-to-stand test (5-STS) and comfortable gait speed (GS). Depressive symptoms were measured by using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Multiple Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors that influenced the depressive symptoms. Results A total of 115 PD patients with a mean age of 69.7 years old were included. 72.2% of the patients showed a GDS-15 score more than 5. The patients with depressive symptoms presented with poorer physical performance, and had a higher percentage reporting in income level less than 3000 RMB/month(P<0.05). The levels of 5-STS(r=0.264), GS(r=-0.242), TUG(r=0.399)performance were significantly associated with GDS-15 score. TUG impairment was a risk factor of depressive symptoms(OR=5.293,95%CI:1.013-27.651). Conclusions There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly patients undegoing PD, and TUG performance is associated with the depressive symptoms.

Key words: end-stage renal disease, peritoneal dialysis, aged, physical function, depressive symptoms