Prevalence and effects of cardiac rehabilitation on depression in the elderly with coronary heart disease.

Depression is a prevalent condition in coronary patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following major coronary events. We measured the prevalence of depressive symptoms in 268 elderly coronary patients 4 to 6 weeks following a major coronary event and assessed its modulation by outpatient cardiac rehabilitation and found that cardiac rehabilitation resulted in a significant reduction in the prevalence and severity of this disorder.