Symptom patterns and clinical outcomes in women versus men with systolic heart failure and depression

Depression is more common in females than in males and is 3–5 times more prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF) than in the general population. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a validated depression screening instrument; higher sum-scores predict adverse clinical outcomes. Sex- and gender differences in PHQ-9 symptom profile, diagnostic and prognostic properties, and impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have not been comprehensively studied in HF patients.

This post hoc analysis from the Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure program enrolled 852/1022 participants (67 ± 13 years, 28% female) who completed the PHQ-9 at hospital discharge after cardiac decompensation. All had a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%. Women had a higher mean PHQ-9 sum-score than men (8.4 ± 5.6 vs. 7.4 ± 5.5; p = 0.027), and higher proportions rated the following items ≥ 2 (i.e., present on ≥ 50% of days): ‘feeling down, hopeless’ (25.8 vs. 18.0%; p = 0.011); ‘fatigue’ (51.9 vs. 37.2%; p < 0.001); and ‘trouble concentrating’ (21.6 vs. 15.4%; p = 0.032). A PHQ-9 sum-score ≥ 10 predicted increased mortality in women [hazard ratio 1.91 (95% confidence interval 1.06–3.43); p = 0.030] and men [2.10 (1.43–3.09); p < 0.001] and was associated with worse HRQOL (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Sum-scores ≥ 10 predicted higher re-hospitalization rates in men only [1.35 (1.08–1.69); p = 0.008].

Differences in several PHQ-9 items indicated sex- or gender-specific depression symptomatology in HF. For both sexes, HRQOL and survival were worse when PHQ-9 sum-score was ≥ 10, but higher sum-scores predicted higher re-hospitalization rates in men only. Considering these specific aspects might help optimize care strategies in HF.