Comorbid depression and health-related quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This article reviews recent studies relating to the impact of depression and its treatment on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Articles for the primary review were identified via MEDLINE and PsycINFO (1995-2006). RESULTS: Evidence suggests that depression has an aversive impact on the HRQOL of patients with stable CAD as well as on patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Unfortunately, there are few depression treatment studies in patients with CAD that make use of standardized HRQOL measures, but the limited evidence suggests that successful treatment has pos..