Depressive Symptoms and Perceptions of ED Care in Patients Evaluated for Acute Coronary Syndrome

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in 1 out of 8 survivors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events, and these persons have a doubling of risk for recurrent ACS and mortality. Overcrowding in the emergency department during ACS evaluation has been associated with increased risk for PTSD, and depressed patients have been found to be particularly vulnerable. Little is known about the mechanisms by which overcrowding increases PTSD risk in depressed patients. Our aim was to evaluate one possible mechanism, patient perception of crowding and care, in depressed and nondepressed ED patients evaluated for ACS.

We enrolled 912 participants in the REactions to Acute Care and Hospitalization study, an ongoing observational cohort study assessing patients evaluated for ACS. Participants completed the Emergency Department Perceptions questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were screened using the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale. Objective ED crowding was calculated using the Emergency Department Work Index (EDWIN).

EDWIN scores did not significantly differ between groups. Although perceptions of ED crowding did not differ between groups, depressed patients perceived the emergency department as more stressful [t = 4.45, P < .001] and perceived poorer care [t = 3.03, P = .003]. Multiple regression modeling found a significant interaction between EDWIN scores and depression, predicting participants' perception of stress in the emergency department (F[7,904] = 7.93, P < .001).

We found that depressed patients experienced the emergency department as more stressful as objectively measured crowding increased. Our study highlights the complex interplay between cardiovascular disease and mental health in impacting patient health outcomes in the emergency department.