A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Depression Questionnaires for Cardiac Populations: IMPLICATIONS FOR CARDIAC REHABILITATION

Feasibility of Observing Cerebrovascular Disease Phenotypes with Smartphone Monitoring: Study Design Considerations for Real-World Studies

Accelerated by the adoption of remote monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in using digitally captured behavioral data to predict patient outcomes has grown; however, it is unclear how feasible digital phenotyping studies may be in patients with recent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. In this perspective, we present participant feedback and relevant smartphone data metrics suggesting that digital phenotyping of post-stroke depression is feasible. Additionally, we proffer thoughtful considerations for designing feasible real-world study protocols tracking cerebrovascular dysfunction with smartphone sensors.

Psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in individuals with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review

PURPOSE

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is used to assess anxiety and depression in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, its measurement properties lack critical appraisal. We aimed to summarize and critically appraise the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the HADS in COPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five electronic databases were searched. The Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines were used to assess the methodological and evidence quality in the selected studies.

RESULTS

Twelve studies assessed the psychometric properties of the HADS-Total and its subscales HADS-Anxiety and HADS-Depression in COPD. High-quality evidence supported the structural and criterion validity of the HADS-A, the internal consistency of the HADS-T, HADS-A, and HADS-D with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.73-0.87, and before-after treatment responsiveness of HADS-T and its subscales (minimal clinically important difference = 1.4-2; effect size = 0.45-1.40). Moderate-quality evidence supported the test-retest reliability of the HADS-A and HADS-D with excellent coefficient values of 0.86-0.90.

CONCLUSIONS

The HADS-A is recommended for use in individuals with stable COPD. The lack of high-quality evidence on the validity of the HADS-D and HADS-T prevented drawing robust conclusions about their clinical utility in COPD.

Associations between depression and anxiety index and frequency of acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Comorbidities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) influence clinical characteristics and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the clinical characteristics and exacerbation rate of COPD according to the presence of depression or anxiety.

DESIGN

This study used data from The Korea COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) cohort, a nationwide prospective cohort from 54 medical centers, between April 2012 and 2019.

METHODS

Depression and anxiety were diagnosed with the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Negative binomial regression analysis was performed to analyze the frequency of exacerbations in depressed patients and anxiety. Differences in lung function trajectory according to presence of depression/anxiety were analyzed using a linear mixed model.

RESULTS

In all, 2147 patients were enrolled. Depressed patients or anxiety had lower lung function, higher modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grade, St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, and COPD assessment test score, and higher rates of exacerbation in the past year than those without depression/anxiety. Depressed patients had a higher frequency of moderate to severe exacerbations [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.57, CI: 1.17-2.11, p = 0.002] and those with anxiety had higher frequencies of moderate to severe (IRR: 1.52, CI: 1.03-2.27, p = 0.038) and severe exacerbations (IRR: 2.13, CI: 1.09-4.15, p = 0.025) during 1-year follow-up compared to those without these comorbidities. The differences in the change in annual forced expiratory volume in 1 seconds (FEV1) over 3 years according to the presence of depression or anxiety were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Depressed and anxious patients showed increased respiratory symptoms and exacerbation rate as well as reduced health-related quality of life, whereas there were no significant differences in changes in lung function between groups with and without depression/anxiety.

Psychometric Properties of the Slovenian Version of the Cardiac Depression Scale

Introduction

The aim of this study was to translate the Cardiac Depression Scale into the Slovenian language and test its validity and reliability on Slovenian patients with heart disease.

Methods

A total of 272 patients with heart disease who underwent elective coronary angiography at Celje General Hospital participated in this study. We used the Slovenian Cardiac Depression Scale (S-CDS), the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-20 (CES-D) to collect data. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity were performed.

Results

Cronbach's alpha for the total scale was 0.92 and the test-retest reliability was 0.71. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed six factors, accounting for 61% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two- and one-factor solution had acceptable goodness-of-fit measures. However, we kept a more parsimonious one-factor method, given a high correlation between the two factors and the theoretical background in previous studies. Concurrent validation against the CES-D and the STAI-S showed moderate to strong correlations.

Conclusions

The S-CDS is a reliable and valid instrument for screening for depression in Slovenian patients with heart disease.

Remote versus in-office monitoring for implantable cardioverter defibrillators: Results from a randomized pragmatic controlled study in Portugal

INTRODUCTION

Remote monitoring (RM) is a safe and effective alternative to in-office conventional follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with RM and its impact on healthcare resources in a population with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

METHODS

Randomized, pragmatic, open-label controlled trial, with adult wearers of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy with ICD (CRT-D), eligible for the CareLink® system. Patients newly implanted or with previous conventional follow-up were randomized to RM or conventional follow-up (control), and followed for 12 months, according to the centers' practice. The number of in-office visits and adverse events were compared between groups. Patient and healthcare professionals' satisfaction with RM were described.

RESULTS

Of the 134 randomized patients (69 RM; 65 control, aged 60±13 years), 80% were male, 23% employed, 72% ICD wearers and 54% newly implanted. Most patients (70%) reported travel costs less than 15€/visit, and 46% daily routine interference with in-office visits. Median physician/technician time with patient was 15 min/15 min, per in-office visit. Excluding baseline and final visits, control patients had more in-office visits in total: median 1 vs. 0, p<0.001. In 81% of the in-office visits, no clinical measures were taken. There were 10 adverse events, with no differences between groups. At the final visit, 95% of RM patients considered RM easy/very easy to use, and would all prefer to maintain RM and recommend it to others. All professionals found the CareLink website easy/very easy to use and were satisfied with transmission data.

CONCLUSIONS

In a Portuguese population with ICD and CRT-D, RM safely reduced the burden of in-office visits, with high levels of satisfaction among patients and healthcare professionals.

Benchmarking Depressive Symptoms in Cardiac Rehabilitation

PURPOSE

Depression affects cardiac health and is important to track within cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Using two depression screeners within one sample, we calculated prevalence of baseline depressive symptomology, improvements during CR, and predictors of both.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the University of Vermont Medical Center CR program prospectively collected database. A total of 1781 patients who attended between January 2011 and July 2019 were included. Two depression screeners (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form [GDS-SF] and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]) were compared on proportion of the sample categorized with ≥ mild or moderate levels of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥5, ≥10; GDS-SF ≥6, ≥10). Changes in depressive symptoms by screener were examined within patients who had completed ≥9 sessions of CR. Patient characteristics associated with depressive symptoms at entry, and changes in symptoms were identified.

RESULTS

Within those who completed ≥9 sessions of CR with exit scores on both screeners (n = 1201), entrance prevalence of ≥ mild and ≥ moderate depressive symptoms differed by screener (32% and 9% PHQ-9; 12% and 3% GDS-SF; both P< .001). Patients who were younger, female, with lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) scores were more likely to have ≥ mild depressive symptoms at entry. Most patients with ≥ mild symptoms decreased severity by ≥1 category by exit (PHQ-9 = 73%; GDS-SF = 77%). Nonsurgical diagnosis and lower CRF were associated with less improvement in symptoms on the PHQ-9 (both P< .05).

CONCLUSION

Our results provide initial benchmarks of depressive symptoms in CR. They identify younger patients, women, patients with lower CRF, and those with nonsurgical diagnosis as higher risk groups for having depressive symptoms or lack of improvement in symptoms.

Depressive Symptoms After Acute Myocardial Infarction and Its Association With Low Functional Capacity and Physical Activity

PURPOSE

Depressive symptoms after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are related with adverse health outcomes. However, the risk factors and course of depressive symptoms after AMI have not been widely investigated, especially in Asian populations. We aimed to evaluate changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the associated risk factors at 3 mo after AMI. We also investigated the associations among functional capacity, physical activity (PA), and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted for 1545 patients who were admitted for AMI and referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) between August 2015 and March 2019. Of these patients, 626 patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Korean Activity Scale Index (KASI), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) 3 mo following AMI. A PHQ-9 score of ≥5 was considered to indicate depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30% at baseline and decreased to 12% at 3 mo after AMI. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with low functional capacity (OR = 2.20, P = .004) and unemployment status (OR = 1.82, P = .023). After adjusting for variables including functional capacity, depressive symptoms exhibited a significant relationship with low PA after AMI (OR = 1.80, P = .023).

CONCLUSION

Systematic screening and treatment for depressive symptoms and efforts to promote CR may help to improve PA and functional capacity in Korean patients with AMI. Such efforts may aid in reducing the depressive symptoms and related adverse outcomes.

Psychometric properties of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A systematic review protocol (Preprint)

Background

In individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anxiety and depression contribute to increased mortality and exacerbations, decreased physical functioning, and deteriorated health-related quality of life. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a patient-reported tool developed to measure symptoms of anxiety and depression in clinical settings. The HADS has been frequently used with individuals with COPD; however, its measurement properties lack critical appraisal in this population.

Objective

This review aims to summarize and critically appraise the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the HADS in individuals with COPD.

Methods

Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsychINFO, and Web of Science) will be systematically searched. Articles will be included if they assessed the measurement properties of the HADS in COPD; were published in a peer-reviewed journal; and were written in English. The COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) guidelines will be used to assess the methodological quality and level of evidence in the selected studies.

Results

To date, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and will be included in the systematic review. The results of the psychometric properties of HADS will be qualitatively summarized and compared against the criteria for good measurement properties. The overall quality of evidence will be graded using the modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. We expect to complete the systematic review by December 2022.

Conclusions

This systematic review will be the first to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HADS in individuals with COPD. Given the negative impact of anxiety and depression on physical functioning and health-related quality of life, this systematic review provides an opportunity to use the HADS as a validated measurement tool for the assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression in individuals with COPD.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42022302064; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=302064

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/37854

Sex and Age Differences in Anxiety and Depression Levels Before and After Aerobic Interval Training in Cardiac Rehabilitation

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to investigate sex and age differences in anxiety and depression among patients with cardiovascular disease at baseline and following aerobic interval training (AIT)-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and secondarily to compare dropout rates between sexes and age groups.

METHODS

Participants were younger (≤44 yr), middle-aged (45-64 yr), and older adults (≥65 yr). The AIT protocol consisted of: 4 × 4-min of high-intensity work periods at 85-95% peak heart rate (HR) interspersed with 3 min of lower-intensity intervals at 60-70% peak HR, twice weekly for 10 wk. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and following CR.

RESULTS

At baseline, of 164 participants (32% female), 14 (35% female) were younger, 110 (33% female) were middle-aged, and 40 (30% female) were older. Older adults reported lower anxiety levels versus younger (4.4 ± 2.6 vs 7.8 ± 3.4 points, P = .008) and middle-aged adults (4.4 ± 2.6 vs 6.1 ± 3.6 points, P = .05). Baseline depression levels did not differ between age groups (P = .749). All age groups experienced a reduction in anxiety (younger =-2.67; middle-aged =-1.40; older =-0.85) and depression (younger =-1.50; middle-aged =-0.83; older =-0.70) levels following CR. Differences in dropout rates were observed between age groups (χ2[1] = 13.4, P = .001). Within each age group, 43% (female n = 2, male n = 4) of younger, 10% (female n = 8, male n = 3) of middle-aged, and 2.5% (female n = 0, male n = 1) of older participants dropped out.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger and middle-aged adults experience higher levels of anxiety upon entry into CR compared with older adults. Cardiac rehabilitation was associated with significant reductions in anxiety and depression severity, yet dropout rates were highest among younger adults.

Review of Recent Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Related to Enrollment/Adherence, Mental Health, and Other Populations

This review overviews three topic areas observed to be highly active in the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) research literature published in 2019 and 2020. Topics summarized were enrollment or adherence in CR programs; mental health, particularly depression, stress, and anxiety of patients participating in CR programs; and patients participating in CR programs with diagnoses other than coronary artery bypass graft, myocardial infarction, or percutaneous coronary interventions.

Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Canadian Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to determine whether type 2 diabetes status is associated with an increased likelihood of depressed mood and anxiety in patients attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and to explore predictors of depression and anxiety after CR completion in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients who completed a 12-wk CR program between 2002 and 2016. Patients were classified as reporting normal-to-mild or moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Logistic regression models were used to compare predictors of depression and anxiety prior to CR enrollment and investigate predictors of post-CR HADS scores among a subset of patients with diabetes.

RESULTS

Data from 6746 patients (mean age 61 ± 11 yr, 18% female, 18% with diabetes) were analyzed. After controlling for known predictors of depression, patients with diabetes were not more likely to report moderate-to-severe levels of depression prior to or after completing CR. In patients with diabetes, younger age predicted moderate-to-severe depression post-CR (OR = 0.95: 95% CI, 0.93-0.98). Patients with diabetes were also more likely to report moderate-to-severe levels of anxiety after completing CR (OR = 1.45: 95% CI, 1.02-2.07). Younger age (OR = 0.93: 95% CI, 0.88-0.97) and smoking status (OR = 3.3: 95% CI, 1.15-7.06) predicted moderate-to-severe post-CR anxiety in patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with diabetes, particularly younger patients who currently smoke or recently quit, are more likely to report having anxiety following CR. These patients may therefore require additional management of anxiety symptoms during CR. Larger studies of CR patients with diabetes and more variable depression and anxiety levels are needed.