title: Depressive symptoms in pulmonary arterial hypertension: prevalence and association with functional status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with left-heart disease, depressive symptoms have a significant impact on functional status and quality of life. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, and their impact on patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is understudied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms in PAH and their correlation with physical functioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive outpatients with PAH (idiopathic; or associated with scleroderma, congenital heart disease, or anorexiant use) seen in two university PAH clinics were screened. At two outpatient visits, 8 to 16 weeks apart, patients completed the PHQ-8, a well-validated instrument for grading severity of depressive symptoms; they were assessed for cardiac functional class (FC), and performed a 6-minute walk-distance test (6MWD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A group of 100 patients (88% women, 50% with idiopathic PAH) were enrolled. At baseline, 15% of subjects had symptoms suggestive of major depressive disorder; 40% had mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms; and 45% had no-to-minimal depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is common in patients with PAH, with 55% demonstrating depressive symptoms. These results suggest that screening patients with PAH will identify a large proportion of patients who might benefit from depression therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Hypertension Center, University of Colorado-Denver, 12401 E. 17th Ave., Box L957, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Deb.McCollister@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Deborah H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: McCollister
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beutz
authors.forename: Vallerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rumsfeld
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Masoudi
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tripputi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yaeger
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weintraub
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Badesch
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers