Correlation of depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Background: Besides physical problems, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) experienced psychological problems such as depression.

Objectives: To describe depression, and examine its correlates including social support, self-efficacy, sleep disturbance in patients with ACS.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine patients diagnosed with ACS (unstable angina, STEMI and NSTEMI) were recruited at outpatient clinics from two tertiary hospitals. Instruments consisted of a demographic data questionnaire, a social support questionnaire, a self-efficacy questionnaire, a sleep disturbance questionnaire, and a depression questionnaire. All questionnaires were tested for content validity by 5 experts. Alpha Cronbach coefficients of the instruments were 0.87, 0.76, 0.86, 0.84, respectively. Statistics used in the study was Pearson product moment correlations.

Results: 28.1% of ACS patients were depressed. Around 12.0% were at mild to moderate level, and 15.9% were at severe level of depression. Social support and self-efficacy were negatively related to depression (r = - 0.144, and r = - 0.185, P < 0.05). However, sleep disturbance was positively related to depression (r = 0.59, P < 0.05)

Conclusion: Assessment of depression in ACS patients was very important since the incidence of depression was quite noticeable. Promoting social support and self-efficacy might prevent depression. Also, managing sleep problems was beneficial in reducing depression.