The Use of Antidepressants in Patients with Heart Failure

Publication date: Available online 11 October 2019Source: Journal of the Saudi Heart AssociationAuthor(s): Norah Alsumih, Rahaf Alqahtani, Faisal Almutairi, Rakan Faraj, Turki Alsubeai, Ahmed Alghanim, Shmylan Alharbi, Hind AlmodaimeghAbstractHeart failure (HF) is a chronic disease affecting patients’ quality of life (QOL) and may cause depression. Recent studies showed that the prevalence of depression in patients with HF is 21.5%. Antidepressants, mainly Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are usually prescribed for HF patients diagnosed with depression. Some evidence supports antidepressant’s role in improving symptoms by enhancing the psychological aspect of their QOL. Depression screening and treatment are important in the multidisciplinary management, although their survival benefits are inconsistent. In our study, we aim to investigate the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants in HF patients as well as to determine the acceptance of using antidepressants in HF patients. This is a cross-sectional study conducted by interviews with HF outpatients at National Guard Hospital in Riyadh. Patients were assessed using Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD). The sample consisted of 306 patients. The majority (69%) were male and above the age of 61 years (60%). The patients’ medical history was classified into different groups, with the largest proportion (39.9%) in the diabetic-hypertensive group, followed by a diabetic group (21.2%) and a hyperten...
Source: Journal of the Saudi Heart Association - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research