Comment on "Depression after CABG: A prospective study."

Dear Editor

In the December 2013 edition of the Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nunes et al.^[1] reported that a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) patients group, especially on the initial six months after surgery. Results of study by Nunes et al. are particularly important not only because depression is a mortality risk factor after CABG, but tapping a serious problem worldwide - the need of addressing the supply of physicians^[2]. However, we disagree how the patients were classified as depressive.

There are some scales for screening depression and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is one of them. Current study consists of population of elderly subject which was almost half of entire study participants. In elderly, Geriatric Depression Scale is useful tool to assess the depression because of its brevity and favorable psychometric properties. However, BDI may not be suitable for screening depression in elderly people^[3].

Previous history of depression or other mood disorders were not reported in the current study. Previous studies showed that depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the coronary events are 1.64 times higher in depressed patients^[4]. It is possible to conclude that depressive symptoms reported in the study by Nunes et al.^[1] may be present before CABG and not related to CABG. We believe that these point needs to be considered as arguable with regards in the present study.

Umit Cintosun¹, Umut Safer¹

1. Department of Geriatrics, Gulhane School of Medicine. Ankara, Turkey.

REFERENCES

1. Nunes JKVRS, Figueiredo Neto JA, Sousa RML, Costa VLXC, Silva FMAM, Hora AFLT, et al. Depression after CABG: a prospective study. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2013;28(4):491-7.

2. Pinton FA, Carvalho CF, Miyazaki MCOS, Godoy MF. Depression as a risk factor for early and late morbidity after coronary artery bypass surgery. Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2006;21(1):68-74.

3. Smarr KL, Keefer AL. Measures of depression and depressive symptoms: Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(Suppl 11):S454-66.

4. Barth J, Schumacher M, Herrmann-Lingen C. Depression as a risk factor for mortality in patients with coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. Psychosom Med. 2004;66(6):802-13.

Professor Salerno is named for the highest position of the University of Miami

Professor Salerno é nomeado para o mais alto cargo da Universidade de Miami

Tomas A. Salerno, M.D., vice chair of the Miller School of Medicine's Department of Surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery, was elected chair of the Faculty Senate for a one-year term beginning June 1. Salerno, who joined the Miller School faculty in 1999, will succeed Richard Williamson, a professor at the School of Law who stepped down after five terms as chair.

Linda L. Neider, professor in the School of Business Administration who initially began serving in the Senate shortly after joining the UM faculty in 1979, was elected first-vice chair. Sam Terilli, a veteran media lawyer who joined the School of Communication faculty in 2003, was elected to his second term as second vice chair.

Salerno, who has served in the Faculty Senate since 2008, most recently as first vice chair, said he looks forward to uniting faculty from all schools, representing their views, goals and dreams, and promoting their well-being.

"I have been involved in many aspects of faculty life, and in many Senate committees, including Promotion, Personnel and General Welfare, and the Medical School Council, and have most enjoyed interacting with University scholars, and the leadership of the University and the different schools," Salerno said. "I have been inspired by the legacies of previous Senate chairs, and in this new role, I will do my best to represent faculty, make sure that their voice is heard, and be a strong leader in these challenging times."

Neider, an expert in leadership and human resources, has served in a variety of administrative roles over the past three decades, including more than 20 years as chair of the School of Business Administration's Department of Management, and several years as a vice dean. During her Senate service, she has chaired or been a member of a number of committees, including Academic Standards, Budget and Compensation, Student Affairs, Professional Conduct, and Women and Minorities.

Terilli, who practiced media, commercial and employment law for 30 years, including 12 years as general counsel of the Miami Herald Publishing Company, is the incoming chair of the School of Communication's Department of Journalism and Media Management. In the Senate, he chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on the Miller School of Medicine, and previously chaired two other Senate ad hoc committees-one on the Internal Review Board and the other on revising the rules for early evaluations of deans and other administrators. He also chaired the Administrative Services Committee, and served as a member of the Committee on Professional Conduct and as an academic counsel for faculty.

Publicado originalmente em: http://everitas.univmiami.net/2014/05/08/faculty-senate-elects-new-leaders/