24 Apr Depression Linked To Worse Heart Failure Outcomes in Blacks
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Robert J. Mentz MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Director, Duke University Cooperative Cardiovascular Society
Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation
Duke University Medical Center
Duke Clinical Research Institute
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Mentz: Previous studies have shown that depression is associated with worse outcomes in heart failure patients; however, most of these prior studies were conducted in primarily white patient populations. The impact of depressive symptoms on outcomes specifically in blacks with heart failure has not been well studied. We used data from the HF-ACTION trial of exercise training in heart failure patients, which collected data on depressive symptoms via the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), to assess the association between depressive symptoms and outcomes in black patients as compared with white patients. We found that in blacks with heart failure, baseline symptoms of depression and worsening of symptoms over time were both associated with increased all-cause mortality/hospitalization.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Mentz: Clinicians should pay attention to even modest baseline symptoms of depression and worsening of symptoms over time in blacks. Routine assessment of depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure may help guide management.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Mentz: Future studies should assess whether early identification and intervention on even modest symptoms of depression in heart failure patients can improve patients’ quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Citation:
[wysija_form id=”1″]
Last Updated on April 24, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD