| News From Transplant Week of May 26, 2002 / Vol. 3 No. 21 |
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Study: Depression Negatively Impacts Patients Awaiting Lung Transplants |
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Depression is a significant predictor of worse quality of life and perceived shortness of breath in patients awaiting lung transplantation, according to Duke University researchers. The researchers report the negative effects of depression are above and beyond other factors, such as lung function and the underlying disease, and believe that efforts to treat depression might improve outcomes after lung transplantation. "These findings represent an example of how psychological factors can impact physical health," said Dr. Scott Palmer, medical director of Duke's lung transplantation program. "The effect of depression is quite striking in predicting a lung patient's quality of life as well as their perceived shortness of breath." "The findings also suggest that while we have many medical treatments for these patients, if we don't address the issue of anxiety and depression we might have less impact on their quality of life, and possibly their ultimate outcomes," Palmer added. Palmer prepared the results of the Duke study for presentation at the 98th annual international conference of the American Thoracic Society. Their report is the first analysis of data being collected on patients awaiting lung transplants enrolled in a five-year, $2.6 million trial funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. For this "snapshot" of the psychological and physical status of the first 99 patients enrolled in the trial on Duke's waiting list, patients took a battery of tests to measure their depression and anxiety. "Our
analysis suggests that while lung function and underlying disease
are important predictors of pulmonary quality of life and shortness
of breath, depression appears to be a stronger predictor,"
Palmer said. "We need more studies to evaluate different
interventions to see if they have any impact on quality of life
and post-transplant outcomes." Other sources: Duke University |
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