Minor depression as a short-term risk factor in outpatients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND

In the past decade, there has been an increasing awareness of both quality-of-life impairment and the negative prognostic role of depression in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to evaluate distress, psychological well-being, and clinical and subclinical depression in 68 CHF outpatients at Bellaria Hospital in Bologna, Italy, at an initial assessment and at a 2-month routine follow-up visit.

RESULTS

Patients reported a high prevalence of somatic complaints, depression, and demoralization, and low scores on psychological well-being. Among the variables examined as potential risk factors for cardiovascular outcome events, based on rehospitalization and cardiac death, only minor depression attained statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should thus assess minor depression among other psychological variables in these patients.