Contribution of depression and anxiety to impaired quality of life in survivors of myocardial infarction

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the adverse influence of depression and anxiety assessed at the time of myocardial infarction, on the quality of life 5 years after the infarction.

Methods: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed in a group of 196 patients admitted in the hospital following non-fatal myocardial infarction, and the SF-12 quality of life questionnaire was administered during the 5- year follow-up.

Results: Regression analysis showed a strong association between baseline depression and QoL in both the physical and mental domains; the higher the depression scores, the poorer the QoL. However, anxiety present at the time of myocardial infarction did not predict later QoL.

Conclusions: Depression but not anxiety following MI predicts longer-term quality of life in myocardial infarction survivors.

Keywords: Depression; anxiety; myocardial infarction; quality of life.