title: Efficacy of prophylactic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression after open-heart surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in female patients at high risk of suffering depression after cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female patients (n = 58; group I) who were over 70 years of age or who had undergone emergency surgery were administered prophylactic treatment with paroxetine immediately after surgery. The hospital mortality and morbidity data of these patients were compared with those of 59 patients (group II) without prophylactic medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score at 10 days after surgery was significantly lower in group I (15.2 ± 7.8) than in group II (21.8 ± 7.5, P = 0.0018). The incidence of depression (I: 12.1% vs II: 64.4%, P < 0.0001) and pneumonia (I: 0% vs II: 10.2%, P = 0.0127) were significantly lower in group I than in group II. In addition, the duration of postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for group I than for group II (I: 15.9 ± 56.5 vs II: 23.4 ± 20.5 days, P = 0.0102). The hospital mortality rates were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life of patients with depression after open-heart surgery is poor. The early administration of prophylactic medication is therefore necessary for those patients at risk for developing depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Ooyaguchi, Kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sezai
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yoshitake
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakui
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takasaka
authors.forename: Hideomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Kazutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Motomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiono
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors