Heart failure and depression. A psychosocial perspective

Abstract Heart failure is the final stage of many heart diseases and the main cause of mortality. It affects the patient, the family and the health system. Depression affects between the 13.9% and 75% of inpatients, and between 11% and 42% of outpatients. It also affects social life and quality of life, causes hospitalization and rehospitalization, and it activates biological mechanisms that worsen the evolution of heart diseases. From a bibliographic review we discuss psychosocial and biological aspects that relate both diseases.