Heart attack depression risk
August 23, 2012
PARTNERS of people who suffer a
heart attack have a greater risk of
depression or suicide, according to
new research published in the
European Heart Journal.
The study looked at several
Danish national registries involving
tens of thousands of people to
identify individuals whose spouses
had fatal and non-fatal acute
myocardial infarction (AMI).
Overall, 16,506 spouses of
individuals dying of AMI were
matched with 49,518 spouses of
individuals dying of a non-AMI
cause; whilst 44,566 spouses of
individuals with a non-fatal AMI
were matched with 131,563
spouses of individuals with a nonfatal,
non-AMI hospitalisation.
Researchers then looked at the
rates of antidepressant and
benzodiazepine use, as well as,
depression care and suicides, and
compared them pre- and post-event.
According to the results, both
those whose spouse died of AMI and
those whose spouse had a non-fatal
AMI (compared with a non-AMI
cause) had increased antidepressant
and benzodiazepine use.
In addition, researchers found
that spouses of fatal AMI patients
also had an increased risk of
depression and suicide.
Overall the study found that
people who lost their partner to a
heart attack were three times as
likely to be taking antidepressants
in the year after their death
compared to the year before.
Antidepressant use also went up
17% for people whose partner
survived.
Interestingly, researchers also
found that males whose spouse
had a fatal or non-fatal AMI had a
relatively higher increased risk of
depression than females whose
spouse had a heart attack.
Speaking in the wake of the study
Dr Robert Grenfell, Clinical Issues
Director at the Heart Foundation
said “We’ve known for some time
that having a heart attack can lead
to depression and this study shows
that the emotional impact also hits
partners very hard”.
“It’s another reason why we need
urgent action to improve cardiac
rehabilitation services, which
provide counselling for patients and
their partners and the opportunity
to identify and manage cases of
depression early,” he added.
MEANWHILE the Heart
Foundation also used the study to
again urge healthcare practitioners
with patients who have suffered a
heart attack, heart surgery, or other
heart or blood vessel disease to
refer them to an appropriate
cardiac rehabilitation program.
The Heart Foundation also
renewed its calls for the
Government to fund a national
program and increase cardiac
rehabilitation availability.
According to the Heart
Foundation, if the Govt funds a
national program more Australians
will take part and get the support
they need.
“This will reduce the chances of
heart disease patients having
further cardiac events and prevent
costly hospital admissions,”
Grenfell said.
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