Article

18-month follow-up study with repeated measures and comparison with a reference population ; Recently, there has been substantial improvement in coronary care and
a corresponding reduction in mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Some studies suggest that improved prognosis has led to reduced levels of anxiety
and depression after AMI, in both the short and long term. The aims of this study
were to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression from the acute event to 18
months following AMI, and to compare results with levels in the Norwegian
reference population. DESIGN AND METHODS: The progress of 288 patients was
monitored using self-reports 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after AMI. Anxiety and
depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Reference
population data were obtained from the Nord-Trondelag Health Study 1995-1997 (the
HUNT 2 Study). RESULTS: At baseline, 19.7 and 13.6% of AMI patients reported high
levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. At baseline, AMI
patients were more anxious, but not more depressed, when compared with the
reference population (P<0.001 and P = 0.092, respectively). After 3-18 months,
AMI patients' levels of anxiety and depression were not higher than levels in the
reference population. Anxiety and depression at baseline and after 3 months were
the best predictors of anxiety and depression after 18 months, although
complications, bed days and lifestyle improvement also significantly predicted
depression after 18 months. CONCLUSION: Initially, AMI patients had higher levels
of anxiety, but not depressive symptoms. After 3-18 months, these patients were
not more anxious or depressed than the Norwegian reference population.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI