A STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIAC DISEASES

Dr. Mohammed Misbahuddin*, Rupasri Kota, Tejaswini Linga, Tejaswi Dondeti, Shravan R., Om Jagdale, Abhirami K. Parthasarathi, Annie Rishitha Kiran Nalukurthi, Mohammed Sonia, Dr. Tanwir Ahamad

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are often accompanied by psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression that severely sap their quality of life (QOL)]. Early recognition and treatment are crucial for improved patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression and evaluate quality of life in patients with cardiac diseases. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and done among 120 cardiac patients. Using the GAD-7 scale, anxiety was analyzed; depression was tested using the PHQ-9 scale, and interviewing questions for the quality of life evaluation were taken from the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and correlations among psychological distress and QOL were analyzed. Results: Anxiety was prevalent in 75% of patients, with mild, moderate, and severe anxiety occurring in 35%, 28.3%, and 11.7% of patients, respectively. Depression was present in 76.7%, with moderate depression being the most common at 31.7%. The mean QOL in the whole study population was 51.9 ± 9.8, with the physical (48.3 ± 9.4) and psychological (46.5 ± 10.2) domains most affected. Significantly higher anxiety and depression scores were associated with a poor quality of life (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive disorders are quite prevalent among cardiac cases and are strongly associated with a poor quality of life. Psychological screening and the use of mental health interventions in cardiac care are thus recommended for overall outcomes for patients.