To assess the psychosocial burden in a diverse group of cardiac inpatients and identify clinical characteristics and comorbidities associated with depressive or anxious symptoms.
Approach:
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.
The proposed framework classified 30% of patients as high or extreme risk, compared with 12% classified as having severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation under established grading schemes.
