Depression screening after cardiac surgery: a six-month longitudinal follow-up for cardiac events, hospital readmissions quality of life and mental health.
Tully PJ, Baumeister H, Bennetts JS, Rice GD, Baker RA.
Int J Cardiol. 2016;206:44-50. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.01.015
Abstract
Objectives: To report the 6-month longitudinal outcomes of routine depression screening in cardiac patients.
Results: By six-month follow-up, the depression screen-positive group was at a higher risk of MACE (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] .98-4.74). The depression screen-positive group was also at a higher risk of depressed mood (PHQ scores ≥10: adjusted OR 6.54; 95% CI 3.16-13.53). The depression screen-positive group also reported significantly poorer QOL in five domains (all p<.001 with Bonferroni correction). The depression screen-positive group was more likely to be initiated on antidepressant and anxiolytic (ORs 5.89 and 4.74 respectively) at follow-up. The number needed to screen to achieve one additional depression remission case was 9 in the screen-positive group (versus the depression-control group).
Conclusion: Depression screening was associated with an increase in psychotropic medication use however depression, morbidity, and quality of life remained poor at six months.