Pre-Existing Major Depression Predicts In-Hospital Cardiac Complications After Acute Myocardial Infarction

BackgroundDepression (MDD) and anxiety have been associated with negative long-term outcomes among patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to determine whether MDD and anxiety preceding MI were associated with in-hospital post-MI cardiac complications.MethodSubjects (N = 129) underwent psychiatric interviews within 72 hours of MI and were evaluated for five in-hospital cardiac complications (recurrent ischemia, ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia requiring intervention, congestive heart failure, and reinfarction).ResultsCurrent (pre-MI) MDD was a significant and independent predictor of all complications except recurrent ischemia on multivariate regression analysis. In contrast, pre-MI anxiety was not associated with complications.ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of identifying and treating MDD in post-MI patients and those at risk for MI.