Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress and Their Associated Factors among Cardiac Patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases pose life-threatening health conditions. The presence of depression and anxiety has been associated with increased rates of hospitalization and elevated mortality risks. This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress, along with their determinants, among cardiac patients in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all individuals seeking care at Prince Mohammed Bin Nasir Hospital, Jazan, from July 2023 to June 2024. The questionnaire, adapted from the literature, comprised sections addressing sociodemographic particulars, health-related information and the standardized Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). SPSS v 26 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 327 patients participated in our study, revealing a prevalence of 47%, 73% and 50% for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Stressful life events (95% CI for depression: 1.0 to 6.7; 95% CI for anxiety: 0.68 to 6.6; 95% CI for stress: 4.3 to 11) and the presence of chronic diseases were significantly associated with higher risks of depression, anxiety and stress. Female gender (95% CI: -8.2 to -0.20, p value: 0.04) and smoking (95% CI: 0.91 to 7.1, p value: 0.011) were predictors of higher anxiety, while a sedentary lifestyle (95% CI: 0.09 to 5.5, P value: 0.043) was associated with an increased risk of depression. Social support was linked to a greater risk of stress (95% CI: 2.8 to 11, P value: 0.001). Effective control over heart diseases was associated with lower risks of depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusion: Our findings underscore an alarming prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among cardiovascular disease patients, with key predictors identified as stress, lifestyle, the presence of chronic diseases and social support. Thus, attention should be directed towards interventions that may enhance mental health in cardiac patients, ultimately improving their quality of life.