Shalan Joodah Al-Abbudi*, Faris Hassan Lami and Zainab Abd Wady
Background: Depression and ischemic heart disease present a major comorbidity.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and to estimate the severity of depression, and some of sociodemographic variables among patients with ischemic heart disease.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Study included all patients with ischemic heart disease excluding those with unstable medical illness. Socio-demographic variables, history of comorbid illnesses and complications were compiled. Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to identify mental illnesses; DSM-IV criteria for depression and Hamilton-17 Scale for severity of depression, were used.
Results: A total of 271 patients were approached; 94.1% responded. About a half was having myocardial infarction (50.6%), stable angina (31.4%), and (18%) unstable angina. 45.1% had depression; 14.9% mild, 20% moderate, 7.06% sever, and 3.14% very severe depression. Depressed was significantly associated with age (P=0.008), sex (P=0.000), marital status (P=0.026), occupation (P=0.000), education (P=0.005), income (P=0.000), duration of ischemia (P=0.001), comorbidity with other illnesses (P=0.000), cardiac surgery (P=0.025), and stressful life events (P=0.000).
Conclusion: Depression is high among ischemic heart disease patients, significantly associated with demographic variables. Treating physicians and cardiologists need to be aware of this co-morbidity.