Anxiety, depression, poor life-style choices, coronary event - Which causes which?

Abstract

Introduction

Various risk factors for development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been discovered. ACS has numerous consequences, including physical and mental health disturbances.

Aim

To distinguish mental health consequences and risk factors for ACS.

Objectives

To explore the interdependence between poor life-style choices (physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, unhealthy diet, alcohol consumption) and development of anxiety or depressive disorders 1 month and 6 months after ACS.

Methods

Follow-up study on 120 subjects with ACS, retested after 1 and 6 months. Existence of previous or actual mental disorders were excluded in the first phase.

Instruments

Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, questionnaire of general sociodemographic data and life-style factors, Acute Stress Disorder Interview and Clinician-administered PTSD Scale. Lipid levels and BMI were tracked.

Results

After 1 month 27.5% of the subjects had acute stress disorder (ASD) and 13,8% had major depressive disorder (MDD). After 6 months, 37.5% subjects had PTSD and 27.3% had MDD. Alcohol consumption showed to be predictive for development of MDD in the second phase (P = 0.002; OR = 2.48), and physical inactivity showed to be predictive for development of comorbidity of MDD and ASD in the second phase (P = 0.036; OR = 100.00).

Conclusion

Cardiovascular disorders can cause anxious & depressive disorders in frequent alcohol consumers and physically inactive subjects. Since depression, anxiety, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption cannot only be considered as risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, but also be seen as a consequence of cardiovascular disorders, strategies for primary and secondary prevention of coronary events should include a greater concern for mental health as well.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.