The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression subscale, but not the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Scale, identifies patients with acute coronary syndrome at elevated risk of 1-year mortality

J Psychosom Res. 2006 May;60(5):461-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.09.004.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the use of short-form depression scales in assessing 1-year mortality risk in a national sample of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Patients with ACS (N=598) completed either the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression subscale (HADS-D) or the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Scale (BDI-FS). Their mortality status was assessed at 1 year.

Results: Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that patients depressed at baseline (combining HADS-D and BDI-FS depressed cases) were more likely to die within 1 year [hazard ratio (HR)=2.8, 95% CI=1.4-5.7, P=.005], even when controlling for major medical and demographic variables (HR=4.1, 95% CI=1.6-10.3, P=.003). Scoring above the threshold on the HADS-D predicted mortality (HR=4.2, 95% CI=1.8-10.0, P=.001), but scoring above the threshold on the BDI-FS did not (HR=1.8, 95% CI=0.6-5.6, P=.291).

Conclusion: The HADS-D predicted increased risk of 1-year mortality in patients with ACS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology
  • Coronary Disease / mortality*
  • Coronary Disease / rehabilitation*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Time Factors