Depression in unstable angina inpatients in Iran: a case-control study

Depression can be a risk factor for coronary heart diseases and/or a consequence of that. This may eventually worsen prognosis, elongation of the treatment and increase the costs. It seemed necessary to perform a study that can distinguish the degree and intensity of depression signs in patients with unstable angina in comparison with non-angina patients in Qaem general hospital in Mashhad, Iran.
Materials and Methods: One hundred unstable angina patients in heart emergency ward of Qaem hospital were assessed for depression signs and were compared with non-angina patients in 2006. Demographic data forms and Beck depression inventory (BDI) were filled out for all cases in both groups. Data was statistically analyzed using SPSS and appropriate descriptive and analytic statistical tests such as chi square or t-test were conducted.
Results:The mean age was 59.4±11.7 years. Females were 64% of participants. Depression rate was significantly more in the case group (81%) than the control group (P=0.01). There was no relationship between depression rate and age, sex, marital status, education, familial history of depression, occupation, consumption of cardiac or psychological drugs, and duration of cardiac or psychological diseases. Patients with low satisfaction on their income significantly showed more depression rate (P=0.006).
Conclusion: Depression sign rates are significantly higher in patients with unstable angina than the non-angina patients