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Relation between myocardial infarction, depression, hostility, and death

M W Kaufmann1, J P Fitzgibbons, E J Sussman

  • 1Penn State College of Medicine, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, PA 18104, USA.

American Heart Journal
|September 1, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Major depression predicts death 12 months post-myocardial infarction, but hostility does not. Further research is needed on treating depression to improve survival after heart attack.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) survivors face increased mortality risks.
  • The roles of depression and hostility in post-MI outcomes require further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the independent effects of major depression and hostility on 6-month and 12-month mortality rates in patients after MI.
  • To assess the predictive value of psychological factors on survival following hospitalization for myocardial infarction.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective evaluation of 331 patients post-MI.
  • Assessed major depressive episodes using a modified NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule.
  • Analyzed hostility using the Cook Medley Hostility Scale.

Main Results:

  • Depression significantly predicted death at 12 months (P=.04).
  • Depression was not a significant predictor of death at 6 months (P=.08).
  • Hostility did not predict mortality at either 6 or 12 months.

Conclusions:

  • Major depression is a univariable predictor of 12-month mortality in post-MI patients.
  • Hostility is not a predictor of mortality in this population.
  • Further studies should explore the impact of depression treatment on post-MI survival.
Abstract

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