Original article

Relationship between depression and quality of life after myocardial infarction

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Abstract

Aim: To examine the prevalence of depression in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), as well as the relationship between the depression and quality of life.

Methods: The survey was conducted via sociodemographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36). The result of SF-36 is expressed in subscales that make up the health status profile, i.e. physical functioning, physical role, emotional role, social functioning, mental health, vitality, pain and general health.

Results: The study included 120 patients, of which 70 males and 50 females aged between 41 and 88 years (mean 64.73±11.218). All patients were hospitalized at the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, Clinic for Cardiovascular Disease and Rheumatism, due to complications caused by AMI. After AMI 59 (49.17%) patients had depression. Depression was negatively associated with physical functioning, physical role, emotional role, social functioning, mental health, vitality, pain and general health. Physical functioning (r= -0.701; p<0.01) and physical role (r = -0.538; p<0.01) had the highest correlation with depression.

Conclusion: The evaluation of depressive symptoms after AMI is imperative, because the appearance of symptoms could have an effect on the patient's quality of life.

Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, mental health, patient care, public health