Key result
In a cohort of 306 heart failure outpatients, the prevalence of depression was 8.5%, and there was no significant association between heart failure stage and depression or antidepressant use.
Why the study?
Depression screening and treatment are important in heart failure management, but survival benefits are inconsistent, motivating an investigation into depression prevalence, antidepressant use, and patient acceptance of antidepressants.
Cross-Sectional (n=306)
No
In this Saudi cohort of heart failure outpatients, the prevalence of depression was 8.5%, which is lower than previously reported, and antidepressant use was low despite a higher patient-perceived need.
Depression screening in HF outpatients may not require stage stratification; leaves open longitudinal studies of prevalence and treatment impact.
Background: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease affecting patients’ quality of life (QoL) and may cause depression. Recent studies reported that the prevalence of depression in patients with HF is 21.5%. Antidepressants, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are usually prescribed for HF patients diagnosed with depression. Some evidence supports antidepressant’s role in improving symptoms by enhancing the psychological aspect of their QoL. Depression screening and treatment are important in the multidisciplinary management; however, their survival benefits are inconsistent. In our study, we aim to investigate the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants in patients with HF as well as to determine the acceptance of using antidepressants in such patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted by interviewing HF outpatients at National Guard Hospital in Riyadh. Patients were assessed using Hamilton depression rating scale. Results: A total of 306 patients were included, with the majority (69%) being male and aged >61 years (60%). Patients’ medical history was classified into different groups, with the largest proportion (39.9%) in the diabetic-hypertensive group, followed by a diabetic group (21.2%) and a hypertensive group (10.8%). Patients were classified according to the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, and most patients were in Class I (61.8%). Some of the patients (8.5%) had been diagnosed with depression. There was no statistically significant association between HF and depression ( p > 0.05). However, 5.6% of patients had been prescribed antidepressants and 17.1% of patients believed that they required antidepressants. Moreover, there was a statically significant association between medical history and development of depression ( p¼0.014). Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in HF patients in our population was lower than reported. There was no association between HF stage, depression, and antidepressant use.
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Alsumih et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart Failure (n=306). Heart failure stage was evaluated on Association between heart failure stage and depression (p=>0.05). In a cohort of 306 heart failure outpatients, the prevalence of depression was 8.5%, and there was no significant association between heart failure stage and depression or antidepressant use.
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