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Depression in HF hits men hardest
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Depression and reports of having poor quality of life are more likely in men with HF compared with women or men who do not have HF.
Researchers screened 3,046 patients (mean age, 61 years; 39% women) referred to a medical center for CV assessment during a 1-year period. Nearly 9% of the patients had HF. Each patient completed a standardized depression test and quality of life questionnaire; researchers examined scores by sex and HF diagnosis.
Overall, minor and major depression were more frequent in women vs. men (14% vs. 8.9%) and in HF patients (22% vs. 9.6%). Quality of life scores were also lower in women and in HF patients. However, the difference in depression and quality of life scores was more than double for men with HF, compared with all patients. Women with HF also had higher scores than their non-HF counterparts, but the difference was significantly less, according to a press release.
“HF appears to impact depression severity more in men compared with women,” researchers wrote in the study abstract.
These data were presented at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research 2012 Scientific Sessions.
For more information:
- Hachamovitch R. Presentation #279. Presented at: the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research 2012 Scientific Sessions; May 9-11, 2012; Atlanta.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.