Wives whose husbands were hospitalized for severe sepsis were nearly four times more likely than other women to experience substantial depressive symptoms, according to a study.
Severe sepsis is responsible for four times more hospitalizations than more obvious illnesses such as myocardial infarction and is a leading cause of death among older Americans, according to background information in the study, which was conducted by researchers with the University of Michigan Health System and University of Washington School of Medicine, and appeared July 18 on the website of the journal Critical Care Medicine.
"We know that patients who survive sepsis face many new problems, but we know little about the emotional toll it takes on patients’ loved ones," senior author Theodore J. Iwashyna, MD, PhD, who is an assistant professor of internal medicine at U-M and works with the Institute of Social Research and the VA Center for Clinical Management Research, said in a news release.
"Emotional distress may diminish spouses’ abilities to support patients in ongoing rehabilitation and act as surrogate decision-makers for them."
The rapidly growing number of hospitalizations and disabilities caused by the condition impose overwhelming burdens especially on older spouses, Iwashyna noted.
The study is believed to be the first of its kind in gauging depression among spouses of severe-sepsis survivors. It suggests that patients’ spouses may benefit from greater support and depression screening not just when their loved one dies, but also when their loved one survives.
Physicians may also consider including non-spousal family members and support networks to help facilitate patients’ recovery after they leave the ICU.
"Depression in family members could affect end-of-life decisions in the ICU and impact a loved one’s caretaking ability, so interventions may improve the outcomes of patients themselves," said Dimitry S. Davydow, MD, MPH, assistant professor of psychiatry at U-W. "Providers must learn to assess the burden of follow-up care on patients’ spouses to help improve the health and quality of life for this growing population of older Americans."
While older women clearly showed greater risks for depression if their spouses were hospitalized for severe sepsis, data was less definitive for husbands in the same situation. The authors noted that these findings may be due to older men’s possible reluctance to report depressive symptoms.
The researchers conducted the study using participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally-representative sample of older Americans that is conducted by the U-M Institute for Social Research on behalf of the National Institute of Aging.
To read the abstract and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/M0i8ju.
Severe sepsis is responsible for four times more hospitalizations than more obvious illnesses such as myocardial infarction and is a leading cause of death among older Americans, according to background information in the study, which was conducted by researchers with the University of Michigan Health System and University of Washington School of Medicine, and appeared July 18 on the website of the journal Critical Care Medicine.
"We know that patients who survive sepsis face many new problems, but we know little about the emotional toll it takes on patients’ loved ones," senior author Theodore J. Iwashyna, MD, PhD, who is an assistant professor of internal medicine at U-M and works with the Institute of Social Research and the VA Center for Clinical Management Research, said in a news release.
"Emotional distress may diminish spouses’ abilities to support patients in ongoing rehabilitation and act as surrogate decision-makers for them."
The rapidly growing number of hospitalizations and disabilities caused by the condition impose overwhelming burdens especially on older spouses, Iwashyna noted.
The study is believed to be the first of its kind in gauging depression among spouses of severe-sepsis survivors. It suggests that patients’ spouses may benefit from greater support and depression screening not just when their loved one dies, but also when their loved one survives.
Physicians may also consider including non-spousal family members and support networks to help facilitate patients’ recovery after they leave the ICU.
"Depression in family members could affect end-of-life decisions in the ICU and impact a loved one’s caretaking ability, so interventions may improve the outcomes of patients themselves," said Dimitry S. Davydow, MD, MPH, assistant professor of psychiatry at U-W. "Providers must learn to assess the burden of follow-up care on patients’ spouses to help improve the health and quality of life for this growing population of older Americans."
While older women clearly showed greater risks for depression if their spouses were hospitalized for severe sepsis, data was less definitive for husbands in the same situation. The authors noted that these findings may be due to older men’s possible reluctance to report depressive symptoms.
The researchers conducted the study using participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally-representative sample of older Americans that is conducted by the U-M Institute for Social Research on behalf of the National Institute of Aging.
To read the abstract and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/M0i8ju.
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