ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN PATIENT UNDERGOING ANGIOGRAPHY.

Background: Depression is increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing the prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite its prevalence, depressive symptoms remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in CAD patients, impacting disease progression and outcomes. This study aims to determine the association between depressive symptoms and CAD severity in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in CAD patients and compare them with non-CAD individuals. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi, including 64 participants (32 CAD cases and 32 controls). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). CAD was diagnosed through coronary angiography, defining significant disease as ≥70% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded. Statistical analyses, including an independent t-test for PHQ-9 scores and a chi-square test for categorical variables, were performed using SPSS version 23, considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in CAD patients (84.4%) compared to controls (9.4%) (p<0.001). The mean PHQ-9 score in cases was 13.4 ± 3.2, significantly higher than in controls (6.6 ± 2.6) (p<0.001). Factors such as unemployment, urban residence, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were more common in CAD patients. Conclusion: A strong association exists between depressive symptoms and CAD, highlighting the need for routine depression screening and integrated management strategies in cardiovascular care. Addressing depression as a modifiable risk factor may improve clinical outcomes and overall well-being in CAD patients.