Abstract
Background: Depressive symptoms are common among patients with heart failure and are associated with poor quality of life. Vitamin D plays a role in the regulation of mood and depressive symptoms levels. Patients with heart failure can have lower levels of vitamin D.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among patients with heart failure in Jordan.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational comparative design was used in this study. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Arabic subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life was measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire, and vitamin D was measured in plasma. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test and multiple regression.
Results: A total of 220 patients participated in this study, 70.5% of whom were men, and 57.3% had vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL). Patients with vitamin D deficiency had higher levels of depressive symptoms compared with those with normal levels (mean [SD], 16.2 [4.3] vs 6.3 [2.3]; P <= .001). In multiple regression, according to the Baron and Kenny approach, depressive symptoms predicted quality of life and vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency and higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with poor quality of life.
Conclusions: Vitamin D levels partially mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of life. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand the nature of the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among patients with heart failure.