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Coronary artery disease and symptoms of depression in a Kenyan population

F G Njenga1, C G Kamotho, M D Joshi

  • 1Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

East African Medical Journal
|May 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant difference in depression symptoms between Black Africans with and without coronary artery disease. Further research is needed to understand this emerging comorbidity in Africa.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Depression and heart disease are rising causes of death and disability in Africa, surpassing traditional infectious diseases.
  • There is limited understanding of the co-morbidity between heart disease and depression in African populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of depression in Black Africans with and without Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
  • To document depression levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography at Nairobi Hospital.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective comparative study was conducted.
  • The study involved patients at a private hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Main Results:

  • Eighteen patients had abnormal angiograms with an average BDI score of 2.11.
  • Seven patients had normal angiograms with an average BDI score of 1.71.
  • No statistically significant difference in depression scores was observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • The co-morbidity of coronary artery disease and depression is an emerging health concern in Africa.
  • The lack of significant difference in depression scores may be attributed to the small sample size.
  • Continued research is crucial to address this growing epidemic alongside existing health priorities.
Abstract

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