Zeitschrift für Krankenpflege und Pflege

Impact of Depression on Quality of Life Results in Patients Following Acute Coronary Syndrome Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Abstract

Jankowska Polanska Beata, Uchmanowicz Izabella, Dudek Krzysztof and Łoboz- Grudzień Krystyna

The purpose of study was to evaluate the impact of depressive symptoms on the QoL in patients following acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at week one of hospitalization and 6 months following ACS. Methods The study population included 140 patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome who underwent PCI. Depression was evaluated using the Beck Depression Index, which is a self-scoring test for symptoms and severity of depression composed of 21 questions. QoL was evaluated with the use of the Mac New questionnaire, specifically designed for cardiology patients. The QoL evaluation in all Mac New dimensions in the depressed and not depressed groups was statistically different both at baseline and at 6-month follow up. At baseline and at the 6- month follow-up, the mean Emotional Dimension, Physical Dimension, Social Dimension and evaluation of the General Quality of Life dimension the results were lower in the depressed group compared with the not depressed group. The dynamics of change in QoL at 6 months following PCI was verified using the Wilcoxon test and a statistically significant improvement in quality of life was found in all Mac New dimensions in both groups. However, the dynamics were more beneficial in the depressed group. Depression in ACS patients has a strong negative effect on QoL both in early and late observations. Early depression, on the other hand, is a statistically significant and independent predictor of a lower QoL outcome. As such, diagnosis and treatment of depression in patients hospitalized with ACS should become a therapeutic standard.