Assessing the Severity and Persistence of Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Depressive symptoms are common among patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and can adversely affect recovery and long-term outcomes. This study aimed to assess the severity and persistence of depressive symptoms in ACS patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Methods: This observational study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital from May 2017 to April 2018. A total of 210 newly diagnosed ACS patients were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at three time
points: two weeks before admission, post-admission, and two months after admission. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and risk factors were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 22.

Results: The mean age of participants was 54.32 ± 8.37 years, with 72.38% being male. STEMI was the most common type of ACS (76.67%), followed by NSTEMI (17.62%) and unstable angina (6.19%). Before admission, 37.14% had minimal depressive symptoms, 32.38% had mild symptoms, 22.86% had moderate symptoms, 6.67% had moderately severe symptoms, and 0.95% had severe symptoms. Post-admission, minimal depression decreased to 33.33%, while moderately severe depression increased to 9.52%. During follow-up, minimal depression further decreased to 15.29%, and severe depression increased to 7.65%. The mean PHQ-9 score increased significantly from 6.63 ± 4.67 before admission to 9.95 ± 5.77 during follow-up (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are prevalent and persistent in ACS patients, particularly among older adults and females. Routine mental health screening and targeted interventions in ACS care are essential to improve patient outcomes.

J Inv Clin Cardiol 2024; 6(2): 57-64