Depression in Community-Dwelling Elderly Patients With Heart Failure

The present cross-sectional study discussed the relationship between comorbid depression, demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and dietary self-efficacy among Taiwanese community-dwelling elderly patients with heart failure (HF). Specifically, the study examined 175 community-dwelling elderly patients with HF between July 2013 and June 2014. In total, 47.13% of the patients exhibited symptoms of depression. Those without a spouse, who were currently employed, who had an ejection fraction < 30%, who had been readmitted to the hospital 2 or more times, and who had a high level of HF symptom distress were significantly more likely to be depressed. Therefore, it is crucial that care programs designed for these patients include the self-management of HF symptoms, psychological consultations, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical exercise.