[Depression before and after operation in coronary artery bypass grafting patients]

To investigate the presence of depression in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients before and after the operation.

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 72 CABG patients, 21 of which, aged 65.30 +/- 1.15, underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (ONCAB) and 51 of which, aged 63.70 +/- 0.22, underwent off-pump CAB (OPCAB), using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) one day before, and 3 and 6 months after the operation.

Depressive disorders occurred in 49.2% of the patients preoperatively and 26.7% of the patients 6 months after the operation. The mean pre-operative BDI score was 5.77, and the post-operative BDI scores 3 and 6 months after operation were 4.12 and 3.06 respectively. At different post-operative time points the BDI scores of the depressive group were all lower than those of the non-depressive group, however, there was still a trend of lowering of BDI scores in the latter group. There were more patients who failed to resume their original work and more patients with angina and hypertension in the depression group. The proportion of females after operation was higher in the depression group. There was no significant difference in BDI score between the ONCAB and OPCAB groups both pre- and post-operatively.

Depression at different degrees exists before CABG and can be improved post-operatively. Pre-operative BDI score is predictor of post-operative psychological outcome.