Key result
Atrial fibrillation in adults was associated with a global comorbid depression prevalence of 24.3% and an anxiety prevalence of 14.5%, with higher rates in older adults and females.
Why the study?
Although studies have independently analyzed the risk of comorbid depression and anxiety in patients with AF, no study has systematically focused on the global epidemiology of both mental disorders.
Meta-Analysis
Yes
Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent comorbidities in patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly among older adults and females, highlighting the need for routine psychological evaluation and intervention.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High depression/anxiety rates in AF may support screening consideration; extends global prevalence data while leaving intervention effects open.
BACKGROUND: As the burden of mental disorders among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) increases, researchers are beginning to pay close attention to the risk and prevalence of these comorbidities. Although studies have independently analyzed the risk of comorbidity with depression and anxiety in patients with AF, no study has systematically focused on the global epidemiology of these two mental disorders. AIM: To explore the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with AF. METHODS: Five databases were searched from their date of establishment until January 2023. Observational studies reporting the comorbidity of AF with depression and anxiety, were included in this study. Basic information, such as the first author/ publication year, study year, study type, and prevalence of depression and anxiety, were extracted. STATA SE 15.1 was used to analyze the data. Subgroup, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses were performed to estimate study heterogeneity. RESULTS: After a thorough search, 26 studies were identified and included in this meta-analysis. The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety in adults with AF were 24.3% and 14.5%, respectively. Among adult males with AF, the prevalence was 11.7% and 8.7%, respectively, whereas in females it was 19.8% and 10.1%, respectively. In older adults with AF, the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were 40.3% and 33.6%, respectively. The highest regional prevalence of depression and anxiety was observed in European (30.2%) and North American (19.8%) patients with AF. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with AF varies with sex, region, and evaluation scales, suggesting the need for psychological interventions for patients with AF in clinical practice.
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Zhang et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation in adults was associated with a global comorbid depression prevalence of 24.3% and an anxiety prevalence of 14.5%, with higher rates in older adults and females.
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