To assess the psychosocial burden in a diverse group of cardiac inpatients and identify clinical characteristics and comorbidities associated with depressive or anxious symptoms.
Key Findings:
Higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (24.7% in HF, 19.8% in CHD) compared to the general population (3.8%), highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Anxiety prevalence in cardiac patients ranges from 20% to 50%, indicating a significant mental health concern.
Patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and those with an ICD show increased risk for depression, necessitating integrated care approaches.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the significant psychosocial burden in cardiac patients, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated mental health assessments in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may introduce bias, potentially affecting the reliability of findings.
Data limited to a single hospital may affect generalizability to broader populations.
Psychiatric diagnoses were not established, limiting the understanding of mental health disorders and their implications.
Conclusion:
Addressing psychosocial factors in cardiac care is crucial for improving patient outcomes and quality of life, underscoring the importance of mental health integration in treatment plans.
