title: Depression among cardiovascular disease patients on a consultation-liaison service at a general hospital in Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries has been steadily rising. Depression has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Against this background, the authors compared the co-occurrence of depressive illnesses among general hospital inpatients with cardiovascular disease and those without cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychiatric and non-psychiatric diagnoses on all inpatients referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry service at a general hospital in Jamaica were recorded over a one-year period and analysed using chi-square, t-tests, binary logistic regression and odds ratio. Statistical significance was taken at the 0.05 level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 201 patients referred, 17.9% had cardiovascular disease and 19.9% had depressive illnesses. One third of patients with cardiovascular disease were depressed. They were also significantly more likely than other patients to have a depressive illness (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.25, 6.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Special attention to the prevention, detection and treatment of depression should be applied to patients with cardiovascular disease.
authors: Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica, West Indies. Jacqueline.martin02@uwimona.edu.jm
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Martin
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Neita
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult