Depression in patients with heart failure was associated with a higher likelihood of rehospitalization compared to those without depression.
Systematic Review
Does depression increase the risk of rehospitalization in patients with heart failure after discharge?
Depression is associated with a higher likelihood of rehospitalization in heart failure patients, emphasizing the importance of managing depression alongside standard heart failure therapies.
Patients with heart failure are known to be particularly vulnerable to depression resulting in adverse health outcomes. However, there has been no literature review on current evidence regarding the relationship between depression and rehospitalization. This review aims to explore the relationship between depression and rehospitalization in patients with heart failure. A systematic review employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines included articles published between 2001 and 2019 taken from Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. We identified 12 relevant studies with participants ranging from 115 to 160,169 patients. Heart failure patients with depression were more likely to be rehospitalized than those without. To explain this, few reasons have been proposed. First, depression could disrupt the regulation of autonomic nervous system, neurohormonal activation, and body’s natural rhythm. Second, depressed patients tend to have poor adherence to medication. Healthcare providers should not only focus on drug and dietary management but also on implementing effective interventions to manage depression, in order to reduce the risk of rehospitalization. Moreover, palliative care should start at the stage of heart failure diagnosis to improve quality of life, better outcomes, and lower cost of care for the patients.
Suksatan et al. (Tue,) conducted a systematic review in Heart failure. Depression vs. No depression was evaluated on Rehospitalization. Depression in patients with heart failure was associated with a higher likelihood of rehospitalization compared to those without depression.