Depression Among Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients in Baghdad

Overview

This observational study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of depression among patients in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Ward in Baghdad City, Iraq, using a self-administered PHQ-9 questionnaire. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the prevalence of depression among cardiothoracic surgery patients? How is the severity of depression distributed within this group? Are there specific environmental or demographic factors associated with higher levels of depression? Participants will: Fill out the PHQ-9 in order to measure the severity of depressive symptoms at a specific moment in time. Demographic and clinical variables such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, surgery type, comorbidities, and hospital stay length should be taken to look for a possible relationship with depression.

Depression is a common mental health condition that frequently coexists with chronic illnesses and surgical conditions, including cardiothoracic surgeries, significantly impacting recovery and long-term health outcomes. Studies have established a link between depressive symptoms and adverse postoperative results, including prolonged hospital stays, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality rates. In surgical populations, depression often remains undetected and untreated, exacerbating its negative effects on patient outcomes. In Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, the prevalence of depression among cardiothoracic surgery patients is not well documented. The region's ongoing socio-economic challenges, coupled with limited access to mental health resources, pose additional barriers to adequate psychological care. Addressing these challenges requires robust data to inform targeted interventions. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated and widely used tool for screening depression in clinical and nonclinical populations It consists of nine questions that assess the frequency of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks, with scores ranging from 0 to 27. Diagnostic Cut-off: A score of ≥10 is often used as a threshold for identifying major depressive disorder with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, changes in PHQ-9 scores over time are used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Its applicability in diverse populations makes it suitable for assessing depression among cardiothoracic surgery patients in Baghdad . Baghdad is a region with limited local data on mental health, making it crucial to understand the mental health burden in surgical populations. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and severity of depression in this patient group, providing critical insights to bridge the gap in mental health care and improve surgical outcomes.