title: Anxiety and depression as risk factors for mortality after coronary artery bypass surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study examined the association between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mortality risk following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 440 CABG surgery patients' scores on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and followed up mortality status for a median of 5 years, 10 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 67 (15%) deaths overall during the follow-up period. Adjusted survival analysis showed that preoperative depressive symptoms were not associated with a significantly higher risk of mortality. Survival analysis with preoperative anxiety adjusted for covariates showed a significantly increased mortality risk [hazard ratio (HR)=1.88 (95% CI=1.12-3.17), P=.02].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with increased mortality risk after adjustment for known mortality risk factors. Future research should further explore the simultaneous role of anxiety and depression on mortality following CABG.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors