Female Psychological Adjustment Following an Acute Coronary Syndrome

Authors

  • Joana Prata Cardiovascular Research Unit. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal.
  • Amadeu Quelhas Martins Department of Psychology. Universidade Europeia. Laureate International Universities. Lisbon. Portugal. Microenvironments for New Therapies Group. Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal.
  • Sónia Ramos Cardiovascular Research Unit. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal.
  • Francisco Rocha-Gonçalves Cardiovascular Research Unit. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal.
  • Rui Coelho Microenvironments for New Therapies Group. Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal. Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.7871

Keywords:

Acute Coronary Syndrome/psychology, Adaptation, Psychological, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Female

Abstract

Introduction: The outcomes of cardiovascular disease are consistently worse among women, regardless of age or disease severity. Such trend might arise from psychosocial factors, which should be examined in this population.
Objective: To evaluate the influence of type-D personality on anxiety and depression symptoms reported by female patients after a first acute coronary syndrome.
Material and Methods: As part of a larger study, 34 female patients with a first acute coronary syndrome were compared with 43 controls on psychosocial measures (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; type-D personality, DS - 14).
Results: Hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.05), dyslipidemia (p < 0.05), type-D personality (p = 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001) were more prevalent among patients. Exercise (p < 0.05) and antidepressant use (p < 0.05) were more common among controls. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05), dyslipidemia (p < 0.05), type-D personality (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.05) and less antidepressant use (p < 0.05), were independently associated with acute coronary syndrome. Type-D personality was associated with higher Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores in controls (anxiety: p = 0.001; depression: p < 0.001) but not in patients.
Discussion: High anxiety after an acute coronary syndrome might reflect a short-term adaptive response, albeit worsening the disease long-term prognosis. The lack of differences in some group comparisons (patients versus controls for depression scores; type-D ‘positive’ versus type-D ‘negative’ for anxiety and depression scores within patients) is discussed.
Conclusion: Type-D personality, high anxiety, hypertension and dyslipidemia seem to cluster among female acute coronary syndrome patients. Nevertheless, type-D personality itself was not associated with higher anxiety and depressive scores during the post-acute period.

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Published

2017-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Prata J, Martins AQ, Ramos S, Rocha-Gonçalves F, Coelho R. Female Psychological Adjustment Following an Acute Coronary Syndrome. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2017 May 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 19];30(5):373-80. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/7871

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Original