Longitudinal impact of anxiety on depressive outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Findings from the K-DEPACS study

This study investigated the impact of anxiety evaluated within 2 weeks of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) episode on depressive outcomes at a 1-year follow-up assessment. In 828 ACS patients, anxiety was determined by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety subscale at baseline, and DSM-IV depressive disorders and depressive symptoms were evaluated both at baseline and follow-up. Anxiety at baseline was significantly associated with depressive disorder at the follow-up and less improvement in depressive symptoms over 1-year. Anxiety had negative longitudinal impacts on depressive outcomes of ACS, and therefore evaluation of anxiety could be recommended in recently developed ACS patients.