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Minor depression as a short-term risk factor in outpatients with congestive heart failure
Chiara Rafanelli1, Yuri Milaneschi, Renzo Roncuzzi
1Department of Psychology, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. chiara.rafanelli@unibo.it
Background:
In the past decade, there has been an increasing awareness of both quality-of-life impairment and the negative prognostic role of depression in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.
Objective:
The aims of this study were to evaluate distress, psychological well-being, and clinical and subclinical depression in 68 CHF outpatients at Bellaria Hospital in Bologna, Italy, at an initial assessment and at a 2-month routine follow-up visit.
Results:
Patients reported a high prevalence of somatic complaints, depression, and demoralization, and low scores on psychological well-being. Among the variables examined as potential risk factors for cardiovascular outcome events, based on rehospitalization and cardiac death, only minor depression attained statistical significance.
Conclusion:
Clinicians should thus assess minor depression among other psychological variables in these patients.
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