Persistent depression after heart trouble harmful

Date updated: February 05, 2008
Content provided by Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Persistent depression is associated with worse physical health a year after heart attack or severe chest pain -- known by the umbrella term "acute coronary syndrome" (ACS), researchers from Canada report.

Dr. Brett D. Thombs, from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, and colleagues investigated whether symptoms of depression during and after hospitalization for ACS predict physical health status 12 months after ACS in a study of 425 patients.

Based on these findings, Thombs and colleagues think doctors should assess symptoms of depression, "not only at the time of the acute ACS hospitalization, but also subsequently during follow-up visits."

SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology, January 1, 2008.