DOES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION CAUSE ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION?

Abstract

Objective: To study the frequency of depression and anxiety in patients admittedwith acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methodology: Two hundred consecutive patients of AMI without complicationspresenting to the coronary care unit of Cardiology department of Lady ReadingHospital and 200 healthy controls among patient's attendants were interviewedwith standard scales of HADS and HRS for the presence of depression from todate.

Results: Two hundred consecutive patients of AMI and 200 healthy controlsamong patient's relatives were assessed on HADS and HRS scale for thepresence of depression. Sixty three percent of the patients were male in bothgroups. Mean age of patients was 59+11 years while that of controls was52+10 years. Although significantly different between the two groups, age hadno significant effect on the presence of depression in any group (p < 0.4). Asignificant difference was noted in the number of events reported betweenpatients of AMI and control group, 4.21+ versus 2.71+ respectively (p<0.001). On Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) 77.5 % of the acute MIpatients had depression compared to 64 % in the control group (p< 0.003).When HADS was used to asses the level of anxiety and depression in the twogroups, 83 % of patients in the AMI group reported abnormal i.e. scores above 17compared to 70 % in the control group (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Depression was more common in patients presenting with acutemyocardial infarction as assessed by standard scales as compared to controls.