Depression In Myocardial Infarction Patients At Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• High prevalence of depression observed in patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).
• Acute myocardial infarction (MI) poses significant risks for developing mental health issues.
• Depression following MI can impede recovery and worsen patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detect and quantify the prevalence of depression in patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (MI).
• To assess the incidence of depression among patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) with acute MI.
• To inform clinical practice regarding mental health screening in post-MI patients.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed.
• 246 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) were enrolled.
• The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Depression subscale (HADS-D) was used for assessment on the 3rd day of admission.

Main Results:

• The overall frequency of depression among acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients was 27.24% (67 out of 246).
• A cut-off score of 11 on the HADS-D scale identified depressive symptoms.
• No statistically significant association was found between patient age or sex and the presence of depression.

Conclusions:

• Depression is a common comorbidity in patients following acute myocardial infarction (MI).
• Routine psychiatric consultation is recommended for individualized depression management in post-MI patients.
• Integrating mental health assessments into cardiac care pathways is crucial for comprehensive patient management.