Background and objectives:

Depressive episodes are frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. These episodes are related to a vast number of clinical and psychosocial variables. Nevertheless, the relationship between the number of COPD exacerbations and depression has not been extensively studied in the Colombian Caribbean. The objective was to determine the relationship between COPD exacerbations and depression in a sample of outpatients in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analytical study was designed in which COPD adult patients participated. The number of COPD exacerbations (none versus one or more) and the risk of depression were documented. The crude and adjusted association was established by calculating the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

Results:

The study included 408 patients aged between 40 and 102 years (mean 72.9 ± 10.2), and 58.8% were male. 105 patients (25.9%) reported one or more exacerbations in COPD, and 114 patients (27.9%) were at risk for depression. The crude relationship between exacerbations and depression was statistically significant (OR = 1.80; 95%CI, 1.12-2.89) and after adjusting for sex (OR = 1.99; 95%CI, 1.23-3.23).

Conclusions:

The number of COPD exacerbations among outpatients in Santa Marta, Colombia is related to depression. Longitudinal studies are needed in Colombia.

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