Outcome measurements
Depression, depressive symptoms
COMPLICATIONS
The outcome was 12-, 24- and 36-month mortality following HF surgery. DDs diagnoses were based on current antidepressant treatment and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) scores (scores ≥ 5 indicate significant depressive symptoms) [At the end of the RCTs, a consultant geriatrician (YG), blinded to group allocation and not employed at the wards, set all diagnoses. The consultant geriatrician used all possible information from patient’s medical record (diagnoses, complications, and other important documentations), patient’s prescribed drugs and assessments performed in these RCTs (including the MMSE, GDS- 15, Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS) [