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Functional status and depression among men and women with congestive heart failure

T A Murberg1, E Bru, T Aarsland

  • 1Stavanger College, Department for Health and Social Education, Norway.

International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|December 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Depressive symptoms are not predominant in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Physical limitations, but not dyspnea or NYHA class, were linked to depression, with significant gender differences observed in males.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition associated with significant psychological distress.
  • Depression is a common comorbidity in cardiovascular diseases, impacting patient outcomes.
  • Understanding the factors influencing depression in CHF patients is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of depression in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  • To investigate the relationship between functional status (physician-rated NYHA class and patient-assessed limitations/dyspnea) and depressive symptoms.
  • To explore gender-specific differences in the association between functional status and depression in CHF.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 119 clinically stable CHF patients was recruited from an outpatient cardiology practice.
  • Patients underwent physical examinations and completed validated questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and perceived functional status.
  • Statistical analyses, including path analysis, were used to examine associations between variables.

Main Results:

  • Depressive symptoms were not found to be predominant in this sample of CHF patients.
  • No significant direct associations were observed between NYHA class or patient-reported dyspnea and depression.
  • Patient-reported physical limitations were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in males, but not in females.

Conclusions:

  • Men and women may experience and respond differently to the challenges of living with heart failure.
  • The subjective experience of physical limitations appears to be a more significant correlate of depression in males with CHF.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind observed gender differences in response to heart failure.
Abstract

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