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The magnitude of depression in heart failure patients and its association with NYHA class

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

J. Botto*
Affiliation:
Fmup, Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal
S. Martins
Affiliation:
Department Of Clinical Neuroscience And Mental Health And Center for health technology and services research (cintesis), Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal
E. Moreira
Affiliation:
Center For Health Technology And Services Research (cintesis), Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal
J. Silva Cardoso
Affiliation:
Center For Health Technology And Services Research (cintesis), Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal Department Of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal Department Of Cardiology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário S. João (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal
L. Fernandes
Affiliation:
Department Of Clinical Neuroscience And Mental Health And Center for health technology and services research (cintesis), Faculty of Medicine - University Porto, Porto, Portugal Psychiatry Service, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Depression is commonly present among HF patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. However, research regarding its association with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class is still scarce.

Objectives

To evaluate the presence of depression symptoms in HF outpatients and analyze its association with NYHA class.

Methods

This study is part of a larger research project (Deus Ex-Machina/NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-00026). HF patients were recruited from an outpatient clinic at a University Hospital. Exclusion criteria were: unable to communicate, severe visual acuity deficit or NYHA class IV. Sociodemographic data and NYHA class were registered. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression, with a score ≥10 indicating clinically relevant depression.

Results

A sample of 136 HF patients was included, with a median age of 59 (range: 24-81) years old, where 66% were men. Almost half of the patients (49%) were in NYHA class II, followed by class I (36%) and class III (15%). The median score of PHQ-9 was 4(range:0-18), with 26% showing clinically relevant depression. PHQ-9 total score was associated with NYHA class (p=0.001), with higher median scores in worse NYHA classes [class I: 3 (IQR: 5.5), class II: 4 (IQR: 8) and class III: 8.5 (IQR:9.3)].

Conclusions

In this study, depression was present in 26% of HF outpatients and was associated with more severe HF symptoms. Consequently, preventing, monitoring, and treating depression in the management of these patients is recommended. Further research is needed for a deeper analysis of this association.

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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