Risk analysis for depression and patient prognosis after open heart surgery.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to determine the predictors of depression as a complication after open heart surgery and influence of depression on the patients' prognosis.


RESULTS
During the last 3 years, 97 patients (21.5%) of the 452 adult patients who had open heart surgery at our institute experienced depression after the operation. Patients who scored over 16 points using a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale were diagnosed with significant symptoms of depression. Depressed patients (group I, n=97) and non-depressed patients (group II, n=355) in terms of mortality and length of hospital stay were compared. Predictors for depression were identified by logistic regression analysis. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in group I. Hospital mortality was also significantly higher in group I. Female gender (odds ratio (OR): 5.15, p<0.0001), emergency surgery (OR: 4.46, p<0.0001), and being over 70 years of age (OR: 4.67, p<0.0001) were found to be significant predictors for postoperative depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis for patients who had depression developed after open heart surgery was poor. It might be important to start prophylactic medication as soon as possible after the operation, particularly for patients at risk of having depression.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Psychosomatic Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine Ooyaguchi Kamimachi, Tokyo, Japan. mihata@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
Mitsumasa
M
Hata
Yuko
Y
Yagi
Akira
A
Sezai
Tetsuya
T
Niino
Masataka
M
Yoda
Shinji
S
Wakui
Masao
M
Soeda
Ichiroh
I
Nohata
Motomi
M
Shiono
Kazutomo
K
Minami
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors