BackgroundAmong patients with heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders are
highly prevalent and persistent. Both depression and anxiety play a
significant role in cardiovascular disease progression and are acknowledged
to be independent risk factors. However, there is very little gender-related
analysis concerning cardiovascular diseases and emotional disorders.ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate depression and anxiety levels in patients suffering from
myocardial infarction [MI] within the first month after the MI and to assess
the association between cardiovascular disease risk factors, demographic
indicators and emotional disorders, as well as to determine whether there
are gender-based differences or similarities.MethodsThis survey included demographic questions, clinical characteristics,
questions about cardiovascular disease risk factors and the use of the
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]. All statistical tests were
two-sided, and p values < 0.05 were considered statistically
significant.ResultsIt was determined that 71.4% of female and 60.4% of male patients had
concomitant anxiety and/or depression symptomatology (p = 0.006). Using men
as the reference point, women had an elevated risk of having some type of
psychiatric disorder (odds ratio, 2.86, p = 0.007). The HADS-D score was
notably higher in women (8.66 ± 3.717) than men (6.87 ± 4.531,
p = 0.004). It was determined that male patients who developed depression
were on average younger than those without depression (p = 0.005).ConclusionsWomen demonstrated an elevated risk of having anxiety and/or depression
disorder compared to men. Furthermore, depression severity increased with
age in men, while anxiety severity decreased. In contrast, depression and
anxiety severity was similar for women of all ages after the MI. A higher
depression score was associated with diabetes and physical inactivity,
whereas a higher anxiety score was associated with smoking in men.
Hypercholesterolemia was associated with both higher anxiety and depression
scores, and a higher depression score was associated with physical
inactivity in women.