Dc. Steffens et al., The effect of major depression on functional status in patients with coronary artery disease, J AM GER SO, 47(3), 1999, pp. 319-322
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","General & Internal Medicine
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of major depression on reported functional
status in a group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
SETTING: An inpatient cardiology service.
PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-five inpatients with coronary artery dis
ease who were free of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other primary neur
ological illnesses.
MEASUREMENTS: Duke Depression Evaluation Schedule, a structured psychiatric
interview which included the Diagnostic Interview Schedule depression subs
cale, the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, and two scales for measuring ins
trumental and self-maintenance activities of daily living.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects met DSM-IV criteria for major depression. Co
mpared with subjects without major depression, depressed subjects were more
than twice as likely to report a self-maintenance ADL deficit and were sig
nificantly more likely to report an IADL deficit than were nondepressed sub
jects (93 vs 71%). In regression models, female gender, older age, greater
medical illness severity, and presence of major depression were significant
predictors of self-maintenance ADL disability; and female gender, older ag
e, greater medical severity, and presence of major depression significantly
predicted greater IADL impairment.
CONCLUSION: The presence of major depression was associated with functional
disability in patients with CAD. Further research is needed to clarify whe
ther antidepressant treatment significantly impacts both affective symptoms
and functional status in patients with coronary heart disease.