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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2006, at 15:18:45
"Depression, but not antidepressant use, is associated with increased mortality in patients with heart failure, a prospective study has indicated.
Researchers from Duke University Medical Centre, North Carolina, collected data from over 1,000 patients admitted to hospital with heart failure between March 1997 and June 2003. The patients were followed up for an average of two years and seven months.
During follow up, 42.7 per cent of the patients died. Overall, antidepressant use was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95 per cent confidence interval, 1.031.69, P=0.029). However, the association disappeared after controlling for the presence of depression (1.20, 0.841.71).
Study author Wei Jiang said: It can be impractical to make sure every patient with heart failure sees a psychiatrist. That is why it is so important to improve the knowledge and confidence of non-psychiatric professionals for care of depression.
The data were presented earlier this week at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association held in Chicago."
Posted by Declan on November 20, 2006, at 17:29:52
In reply to Depression linked to mortality in heart failure, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2006, at 15:18:45
Hi Ed
Broken heartedness following profound social defeat?
That's what it felt like for me, anyway. And the social isolation thing.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 23:09:38
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failur » ed_uk, posted by Declan on November 20, 2006, at 17:29:52
Is this why my GP said I would die of stress? Love Phillipa
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on November 21, 2006, at 4:29:49
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failur, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2006, at 23:09:38
Good grief, this is terrible. I often wonder about the long-term consequences of mental disorders themselves. I realise the irony of worrying about worrying, by the way. Oh well. I guess its good enough reason to try to sort ourselves out. Not that we don't try hard enough! Its a constant internal battle. Anyway. Yes, there are all those accounts of people who are otherwise physically healthy, just give up on life and die. Like when their spouses die, I think your chance of dying within two years increases alot.
Oh well. Lavender baths for the rest of my life then.
Kind regards
M
Posted by madeline on November 21, 2006, at 6:40:39
In reply to Depression linked to mortality in heart failure, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2006, at 15:18:45
I think that you have to be very careful in interpreting any causality from this study.
For instance, the patients with the most severe heart failure (and therefore most likely to die) may be more likely to be depressed. The two variables (death and depression) may occur together, but one doesn't cause the other.
Alternatively, depression may be protective in heart failure. Depressed people may be more LESS likely to die and are therefore over - represented in the study.
Also, the risk ratio is only slightly greater than one, suggesting a very very weak risk.
Sure, this study indicates that we need to monitor cardiac patients carefully for depression, but it simply doesn't show that depression is killing cardiac patients.
Posted by bassman on November 21, 2006, at 9:05:06
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failure » ed_uk, posted by madeline on November 21, 2006, at 6:40:39
What is might show, however, it that when presented with such negative prognosis, people get depressed. I certainly would.
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 12:20:26
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failure, posted by bassman on November 21, 2006, at 9:05:06
Another which came first the chicken or the egg. I think they say here in the US that depressed people have more heart disease. Love Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk on November 21, 2006, at 14:41:34
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failure » ed_uk, posted by madeline on November 21, 2006, at 6:40:39
>it simply doesn't show that depression is killing cardiac patients
I agree. The study doesn't prove anything.
Regards
Ed
Posted by bassman on November 21, 2006, at 15:54:23
In reply to Re: Depression linked to mortality in heart failure » bassman, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 12:20:26
That's easy, the chicken. :>}
This is the end of the thread.
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