Abstract
Objective
Advances in cardiac surgery and medicine have resulted in congenital heart disease (CHD) not being limited to children. CHD has been linked to emotional disorders, and untreated psychiatric disorders can worsen adult CHD patients’ morbidity and mortality. This study sought to deepen the understanding of depression and anxiety in this population.
Method
A cross-sectional study involving 378 adult outpatients with CHD aged 18 years or older was conducted. Cluster sampling was performed at cardiac center clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and data were collected through questionnaires that included demographic information, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), both of the latter validated in Arabic. Clinical characteristics were assessed using physician-rated New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class for CHD.
Results
Demographic findings revealed a diverse population with the majority aged 18-24 (56.9%), 52.6% women, and 97.1% Saudi nationals. The clinical characteristics of CHD patients indicated that 63.2% were classified as NYHA Class I and 54.0% had simple CHD. A total of 14.6% of participants reported moderate or severe anxiety and 18.3% indicated moderate or severe depression. Significant associations were found between demographic factors and PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores. Higher PHQ-9 scores were associated with age ≥35, female gender, and NYHA Class II–IV. Similar associations were observed for GAD-7 scores.
Conclusions
Depression and anxiety symptoms were relatively common in this population, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health support for adult patients with CHD. The association between negative emotions and certain demographic and clinical factors emphasizes the importance of providing personalized care to these patients.
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