Prevalence of depression and anxiety in the cardiology consulting room. EPICA study

Abstract

There is a significant body of evidence of the link between depression and / or anxiety and cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of depression is threefold in patients with ischemic heart disease, being considered an independent risk factor and prognosis marker. Objective: To know the prevalence of depression and anxiety in outpatients that attended the cardiology consulting-room and its associations with coronary heart disease and others risk factors. Material and methods: During 2 months we surveyed 1035 patients. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Data on age, sex, risk factors and coronary heart disease were obtained and we used the self-administered Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results: The mean age was 61.23 ± 0.42 years (men 55.36%). The prevalence of anxiety was 20.86% (n=216), depression 9.85% (n=102) and combined disorder (anxiety plus depression) 21.6% (n=69). Anxiety was more frequent in females (26.6% vs 16.3%, p=0.0002). Anxiety and depression were associated with coronary heart disease only in men (anxiety 56.3% vs. 43.6%, p=0.006 and depression 58.1% vs. 21.2%, p 0.0001). The vascular risk factors analyzed did not show association with either of the two mood disorders. Depression and anxiety were associated with risk behavior (smoking and sedentarism). Conclusions: Depression and anxiety are commonly present with a high prevalence among outpatients that attended the cardiology consulting room. Both mood disorders were associated with ischemic heart disease only in men.