Depression Status and Related Factors in Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Among patients with heart failure, patients with depressive symptoms 2-3 times higher than in patients without symptoms of depression are at increased risk of mortality. The aim of this study was to determine depression status and related factors in patients with heart failure in 2012-13. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 239 patients with heart failure who referred to Dr. Heshmat hospital in Rasht in 2012-13 were assessed. Data were collected using the Cardiac Depression Scale, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and NYHA classification system. Data were analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for normal distribution of data, correlation chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression). Results: The results showed that 138 (57.7%) patients had depressive symptoms. In the logistic regression analysis, only education and supplementary insurance as a significant predictor of cognitive status were identified, which indicated that the patients with supplementary insurance and higher education levels were more likely to maintain an optimal cognitive function. Conclusions: Since more than half of the subjects had depressive symptoms, we recommend that depressive symptoms be assessed and care plans be planned based on it.