Preoperative and perioperative predictors of reactive and persistent depression after cardiac surgery: a three-month follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Depression is commonly reported in patients after cardiac surgery and increases the risk of postoperative cardiac morbidity or mortality or both. Although preoperative depression has been implicated as the strongest predictor of depression after surgery, the characteristics thought to influence reactive or persistent depression have been poorly investigated in cardiac surgery patients.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, the main aim of this study was to examine whether pre-existing depression rather than perioperative variables may predict postoperative reactive or persistent depression.

METHODS

Overall, 96 patients completed a psychologic evaluation, including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression scale and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for depression and anxiety, respectively, before surgery and at 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 27 (28%) and 24 (25%) patients had depression preoperatively and at 3-month follow-up, respectively. Postoperative depression was predicted by preoperative scores in Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression scale (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (β = 0.22, p < 0.04), but not by procedure-related variables (p > 0.75). Specifically, patients with reactive depression showed greater European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation than those without depression (p < 0.05), whereas patients with persistent depression had greater preoperative Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression scores than those whose depression improved after surgery (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of pre-existing depression and biomedical risk factors can be markers of depression-related risk 3 months after cardiac surgery in patients with persistent and reactive depression, respectively. An integrated psychologic and biomedical evaluation is essential to anticipate which patients are likely to show depression after cardiac surgery.