Patients with depressive symptoms have lower health status benefits after coronary artery bypass surgery

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Depression is a known risk factor for mortality and cardiac events post-CABG.
• Limited research exists on depression's effect on functional outcomes after CABG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and physical functional improvement 6 months after CABG surgery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 963 patients undergoing first CABG were assessed for depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical function (Short Form-36 Physical Component Scale) at baseline and 6 months.
• Physical function improvement was defined as a PCS score increase of >= 5 points.

Main Results:

• Patients with higher depressive symptom scores (GDS >= 10) showed significantly lower rates of physical function improvement (39.7%) compared to those with lower scores (GDS < 5, 60.1%).
• Depressive symptoms were an independent predictor of lack of functional improvement, even when accounting for disease severity.
• High depressive symptom levels were a stronger inverse predictor of functional improvement than traditional cardiac disease severity measures.

Conclusions:

• Elevated depressive symptoms before CABG surgery are a significant risk factor for diminished functional recovery.
• Addressing depression may be crucial for optimizing post-CABG functional outcomes.