Determinants of post-operative depression after coronary angioplasty

Purpose: Depression is a predictor of poor outcomes in coronary artery disease patients. Identifying patients at risk for depression is important for early intervention. The aim was to identify patient characteristics that are associated with depression 1 year after coronary angioplasty.

Methods: Participants were patients who had recently undergone coronary angioplasty and were enrolled in a randomized trial of behavioral modification. Demographics, severity of illness, cardiac risk factors, and social support were assessed at baseline. Depression was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale at baseline and 1 year. Emotional support was assessed by asking patients whether or not they had someone to talk to about personal problems. Patients who responded no to this item were designated as having poor social support. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between self-efficacy, social support & depression at one year.

Results: 660 patients participated in this study, mean age 63 years, 73% male, & 60% had college education or more. Of the 660, exercise was chosen by 85%, weight loss was chosen by 54%. Smoking cessation was chosen by 25%. 33% of patients were depressed at baseline. 15% had no social support. At 12 months, 12% had persistent depression. Baseline depression (P=0.004) and poor social support (P=0.04) predicted depression 1 year after angioplasty.

Conclusion: Baseline poor social support and depression were predictive of depression at one year in angioplasty patients. Future studies will test the impact of improving social support on post-operative depression in angioplasty patients.