Methods: This cross-sectional, analytic study included 170 inpatients (124 males, 46 females, mean age 45.7±18.2 years; range 7 to 80 years) at the Department of Thoracic Surgery between 15 June 2012 and 15 February 2013. Depression status was evaluated with Beck Depression Inventory, quality of life was evaluated with 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (short form-36).

Results: Mean Beck depression score was 11.06±8.79. Of subscales of short form-36; mean scores of physical role limitations, emotional difficulties and general health were low; and mean scores of mental health and social functioning were the highest. When scores of quality of life were compared with depression status, there were statistically significant differences in all subscales of short form-36 between those with and without depression. Scores of quality of life were higher in those without depression. When patients were analyzed in three diagnosis groups as lung cancer, lung infection and thoracic emergencies, number of male patients in all groups was higher than females, indicating a significant relationship between diagnosis and sex (p=0.004). While the diagnosis of lung cancer affected physical functioning and emotional difficulties the most, thoracic emergencies affected general health, vitality and emotional difficulties the most. However, lung infections affected emotional difficulties the most.

Conclusion: The quality of life, social and physical functionality are negatively affected in all chronic diseases, and the individuals’ satisfaction from life decreases. Measuring the depression levels and quality of life of patients will not only assist us in having a better understanding of the disease, but also provide better evaluation of treatment responses.