title: The influence of age, gender, and race on the prevalence of depression in heart failure patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression in an out-patient heart failure (HF) population; its relationship to quality of life (QOL); and the impact of gender, race, and age.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Most studies of depression in HF have evaluated hospitalized patients (a small percentage of the population) and have ignored the influence of various patient characteristics. Although reported depression rates among hospitalized patients range from 13% to 77.5%, out-patient studies have been small, have reported rates of 13% to 42%, and have not adequately accounted for the impact of age, race, or gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 155 patients with stable New York Heart Association functional class II, III, and IV HF and an ejection fraction <40% were given questionnaires to assess QOL and depression. These included the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Depression was defined as a score on the BDI of > or =10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48% of the patients scored as depressed. Depressed patients tended to be younger than non-depressed patients. Women were more likely (64%) to be depressed than men (44%). Among men, blacks (34%) tended to have less depression than whites (54%). Depressed patients scored significantly worse than non-depressed patients on all components of both the questionnaires measuring QOL. However, they did not differ in ejection fraction or treatment, except that depressed patients were significantly less likely to be receiving beta-blockers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is common in patients with HF, with age, gender, and race influencing its prevalence in ways similar to those observed in the general population. These data suggest that pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic treatment of depression might improve the QOL of HF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, 21201, USA. sgottlie@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatta
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Einbinder
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katzen
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minshall
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Brianne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sigler
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Sue Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors