Analysis of Depression in Aged, Hospitalized Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Objective: The objective is to investigate the situation and risk factors of depression in aged, hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: A total of 196 aged CHF patients admitted to Xuanwu Hospital from May 2022 to March 2024 were consecutively selected. Information such as demographics, comorbidi- ties, old-age hospitalization assessment results, and admission test results was collected. Differences were found between the patients admitted with CHF and depression and those without depression. Independent predictors of depression in aged, hospitalized patients with CHF were identified using logistic regression analyses. The sensitivity and specificity of age, frailty score, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification to evaluate the occurrence of depression were examined by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results: Increased age [OR (Odds Ratio)=1.132, (95% CI [Confidence Interval], 1.050- 1.221), P=.001], higher frailty score [OR=8.324, (95% CI, 4.233-16.368), P < .001], and higher NYHA classification [OR = 3.806, (95% CI, 1.864-7.773), P < .001] were independent predictors of depression in aged CHF hospitalized patients. The best indicators for the occurrence of depressive symptoms were age of 75 years, a score of 2 for frailty, and an NYHA classification of III. The AUCs for age, frailty score, and NYHA classification were 0.764, 0.876, and 0.707, respectively.

Conclusion: Clinical assessment of depression is necessary for aged, hospitalized CHF patients. Patients over 75 years old, with a frailty score of at least 2, and an NYHA classifica- tion of III or IV are more prone to depression, which requires attention.

Cite this article as: Wang T, Ma L, Zhang L, Zhang Z, Zhai W, Li Y. Analysis of depression in aged, hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure. Alpha Psychiatry. 2024;25(6):721-726.