Prevalence, Temporal Change, and Determinants of Anxiety and Depression in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

Background Anxiety and depression may be under-recognized in patients with heart failure (HF). We therefore investigated the prevalence and temporal change of these symptoms in hospitalized patients with HF. Methods and Results We prospectively evaluated consecutive hospitalized patients with HF using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on admission and at discharge. The HADS-A (anxiety) and HADS-D (depression) scores were categorized as follows; 0–7, no symptoms; 8–10, mild; and 11–21, significant anxiety or depression. Symptom worsening was defined as the HADS category at discharge being poorer than that on admission. Of 224 patients (mean age 77.5 years), 35 (16%) and 62 (28%) had significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. During hospitalization, the HADS-A significantly decreased (on admission; median 6 [interquartile range (IQR) 3–9] vs at discharge; median 4 [IQR 2–7], P < .01), whereas the HADS-D did not improve (on admission; median 8 [IQR 5–11] vs at discharge; median 8 [IQR 4–11], P =.82). Anxiety and depression worsened during hospitalization in 19 (10%) and 40 (21%) patients, respectively. Advanced age, higher natriuretic peptide levels, and acute-on-chronic HF were associated with worsening anxiety, and longer hospitalization length was associated with worsening depression. Conclusions Anxiety and depression were common and depression persisted during HF hospitalization.