Psychosocial predictors of depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome

To describe the prevalence of depression according to ICD-10 criteria using a self-completed questionnaire and to identify psychosocial predictors of depression at discharge in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

A total of 899 patients with acute coronary syndrome completed the Major Depression Inventory at discharge and a questionnaire regarding previous depression and family history of depression. Information concerning civil status was obtained from the Civil Person Registry.

Ninety patients (10%) were depressed according to ICD-10 criteria at discharge with 7.2% having a moderate to severe depression at discharge. Women were significantly more frequently and severely depressed than men. Patients with and without depression reported primarily somatic symptoms of depression. Cardiovascular risk factors or treatment did not differ between patients with and without depression. Previous depression (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.4-6.0 adjusted) and female gender (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.3 adjusted) predicted depression at discharge in a logistic regression model.

Somatic symptoms of depression are prevalent in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The use of self-completed non-diagnostic questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression therefore is cautioned as patients may wrongly be identified as depressed. In patients with acute coronary syndrome depression is predicted by well-known psychosocial risk factors.