Abstract
Background: Psychological disorders including depression and anxiety are common among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Females with cardiac diseases are at greater risk for mental health disorders than their male counterparts and these mental health disorders have been associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality.Aim: To determine the prevalence of psychological disorders among Libyan females with cardiac diseases at the National Heart Centre (NHC). Methods: A total of (336) female cardiac patients were enrolled in a cross sectional study at the NHC over a period of six months. The validated GHQ-12 questionnaire was used to estimate the prevalence of psychological disorders among participants and data was obtained by personal (face to face) interview. Statistical analysis was performed using the (SPSS.V. 25). Results: The mean age of included patients was 56.5±9 years. 50% of patients were diagnosed with ischemic heart disease, 21.4% with heart failure مجلة الجبل للعلوم التطبيقية والانسانية 0202 م - العدد الثامن الصفحة - 77 while 28.6% of them diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia. Psychological disorders were more prevalent with highly statistical significance among divorced women (P = 0.008), divorced or widowed women who are still giving care for their children (P = 0.001), internally displaced persons (P = 0.001), unsatisfied patients about their monthly (income) (P = 0.002), losing a family member (P = 0.013) and cardiac patients who showed non-adherence to their medications (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of psychological disorders among Libyan female with cardiac diseases was considerably high (56.8%). Several socio-demographic and clinical factors were significantly associated with psychological disorders. Psychological screening measures of cardiac patients may help to take appropriate measures