Anxiety and depression in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease—factors differentiating rural and urban subpopulations

Abstract Background. People suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increasingly experience depression and anxiety disorders. Therefore, it is essential to improve identification strategies and methods of coping for these conditions.Objectives. The aim of the study was to analyse selected variables differentiating rural from urban populations as well as identify potentially increased levels of depression and anxiety.Material and methods. The study was carried out in 193 CVD patients home-cared by a district nurse. Results. Women constituted the majority of respondents (71.7%, n = 81 City-C vs 65.8%, n = 50 Village-V). The median age of the C patients was 76 (range 17-101) vs. 72 (range 18-94) for the V patients. The correlation coefficients displayed significant differences in anxiety, number of cardiologist visits (p = 0.005) and interventions provided by a district nurse (p = 0.03). The rural population stood out in number of home visits, age, assessment of needs and QoL. In addition, a strong relationship between anxiety and age was noted in the rural population (1/OR=1.04; 95% CI: 0.91–0.99), the assessment of satisfied needs (1/OR=293.86; 95% CI: 0.00001–0.56), depression (OR=5.85; 95% CI: 1.58–25.66), QoL in physical (OR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.11–2.33), social (1/OR=1.53; 95% CI: 0.04–0.94) and environmental domains (OR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.06–3.00) as well as between depression and anxiety (OR=4.60; 95% CI: 1.45–16.28), QoL in physical (1/OR=1.39; 95% CI: 0.50–0.97) and psychological (OR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.01–1.93) domains.