Abstract:

Background: Depression is one of the psychological conditions in patients with CVD which causes increase morbidity and poor outcome including low functional status or quality of life, recurrence cardiac event hence increased hospitalization and increased mortality. Diagnosis and treatment of mental condition is generally poor in patients with CVD and the prevalence of depression is unknown in this population.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression among cardiovascular patients.

Methodology: This hospital-based cross-section descriptive study was conducted among inpatient and outpatients diagnosed with CVD attended at Bugando medical centre over six months. Total of 255 patients were enrolled in the study. Data was collected using PHQ-9 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Joint CUHAS/BMC Research and ethics committee.

Results: In the total sample, male were 44.3% (n=113) and female were 55.7% (n=142). The mean age was 53 years. The prevalence of depression among cardiovascular patients were 72.2% (n=184). Symptoms of depression were more prevalent among admitted patients and those with low income per month. Among factors which was associated with depression was education level, income and inpatient and outpatient class.

Conclusion: The prevalence of depression is high in patients with CVD. Health practitioners should early identify the condition, treatment and monitoring should be done so as to improve quality of life and to reduce mortality rate in these patients.