Depression was associated with decreased survival for hospital patients who were seriously ill
Question For hospital patients who are severely ill, is self reported depression associated with mortality after adjusting for functional status and severity of illness?
Design
Cohort study with 4 year follow up (Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatments [SUPPORT]).
Setting
5 tertiary teaching hospitals in the US.
Participants
3529 patients (median age 63 y, median education level 12 y, 58% men, 78% white, 52% married) admitted to hospital with a serious illness. The projected 6 month survival for the group was 50%. Exclusion criteria were not speaking English; having AIDS, head trauma, or burns; being pregnant; <18 years old; expected hospital admission <72 hours; death within 48 hours of admission; or transfer from another hospital.
Assessment of risk factors
Depressed mood was measured using the shortened version of the Profile of Mood States …
