Template provided by: “posters4research.com”

1. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Qatar. It is accounted for 20% of the main causes of death in Qatar.

2. Rapid growth, changing environmental and social conditions, and lifestyle changes may have affected the prevalence and patterns of cardiovascular diseases.

3. Depression is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease, and increased morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction, CABG surgery, congestive heart failure, or mitral valve replacement.

4. Studies show that 15 – 30% of cardiovascular patients experience depression after a cardiac event.

5. Recognition of depression as a co-morbidity in patients with acute coronary syndrome has the potential to improve patients’ depression-related morbidity and benefits patients with underlying coronary disease.

BACKGROUND

CONCLUSION

Depression Among Cardiovascular Patients Living in a Middle Eastern Country – A Preliminary Report

Tam Truong Donnelly, Jassim M. Al Suwaidi, Awad Al-Qahtani, Nidal Asaad, Najlaa Abdul Qader, Rajvir Singh, Tak Fung, Irem Mueed, Noha El-Banna, Shima Sharara, Sarah Omar

University of Calgary–Qatar, Hamad Medical Corporation

1. Cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,000 male and female Arab patients who had symptoms or confirmed diagnosis of CVD, 20 years of age or older, 3 days after admission, was conducted from Jan 2013 to March 2014.

2. Site: Heart Hospital in Doha, Qatar. In-patient setting: 4 cardiology units (3 Cardiology Floor units and Surgical Stepdown).

3. Data collection was obtained from face–face interviews using a structured survey questionnaire (The Beck Depression Inventory

Second Edition (BDI-II) and Demographic questionnaire) 4. Interviews were conducted in Arabic by 3 female trained research

assistants fluent in Arabic and English.5. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviations for interval

variables and frequency) were performed to determine associations between dependent and categorical predictors. Data analyses were conducted with SPSS version 20.

STUDY AIMS

RESULTS

1. Although the quality of healthcare in Qatar is high, mental health care for CV patients has not been a focus of attention. Presently, in-depth systematic assessment of mental health status and screening for depression among CV patients are not routinely performed.

2. Given that CVD are rising in Qatar and depression significantly contributes to the CV mortality and morbidity, there is a pressing need for recognition and identification of psychological disturbances in cardiac patients.

3. Public awareness and education about mental health are critical in order to reduce the stigma associated with accessing treatment for it. 4. Practices, treatments and diagnostic tools for depression should be thoroughly investigated and adapted to the Arab ME context in order to

facilitate the development of culturally appropriate mental health care and uptake of cardiac interventions and rehabilitation.5. Health policy makers should encourage and support psychiatric training and primary health care providers should be trained to provide

psychiatric assistance to CV patients. 6. Further research should also investigate the effects of rapidly changing societal factors in the Middle East and Qatar, such as higher

education, employment, income, obesity, and exposure to social media and peers from varying cultural backgrounds.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS1. Study results demonstrate extremely high response rate (98%) by participants due to face-face interview with well qualified/trained

research assistants. 2. 69% of the participants were male while 31% were females. 3. Almost half the participants were Qatari nationals (46%). Citizens of the Levant countries (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan) and North

African countries (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco) constituted 20% and 18% of the participants.4. 15% of the patients had Mild Mood Disturbance and 5% had symptoms of clinical depression as assessed by the BDI-II.5. Almost twice as many females than males were found to suffer from Mild Mood Disturbance and Clinical Depression. 6. Approximately half of both male and female patients who scored ≥17 on the BDI-II (suggesting symptoms of clinical depression) refused

psychiatric assistance.

We will investigate:1. The prevalence and severity of depression among patients who

have confirmed diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases .2. If there is a relationship between these patients’ socio-demographic

factors (such as income, occupation, employment status, education, nationality, marital status, age, gender, length of cardiovascular disease diagnosis, and spouse’s educational level, employment status and occupation), and depression among these patients.

3. Effective intervention strategies that are expected to increase awareness, prevention of and treatment for depression among cardiovascular patients, thus reducing cardiovascular diseases morbidity and mortality in Qatar.

METHODS

Acknowledgement: This study is funded by Qatar National Research Foundation, NPRP 5–106–3–025

www.ucalgary.edu.qa

1. A systematic search of 12 databases (including CINAHL, Medline, Embase and Global Health) revealed that as of 2013 60 articles investigating depression in cardiovascular patients had been published.

2. Despite the fact that depression is highly prevalent in CVD patients and significantly worsens disease outcomes and end-points, research suggests that it is a poorly identified and inadequately treated risk factor for CVD in the Middle East.

3. Very few longitudinal studies have been conducted in this area and females have been significantly under-represented in a lot of the studies.

4. Diagnosing and treating depression in CV patients is challenging because some somatic symptoms of both disorders are similar and so symptoms of a depressive disorder can be disguised.

5. Given that depression has been identified as a major contributor to CVD, it is imperative to investigate the mental health issues of CV patients to increase the awareness, promote early recognition and treatment of depression.

LITERATURE REVIEW