Impact of depression on quality of life of patients having history of recent myocardial infarction

Background: Major depressive disorder is very common in patients having history of myocardial infarction (MI). Quality of life (QOL) is seen to be poorer in persons having post MI depression than who are non depressed. Aims: To compare QOL between depressed and non depressed patients with history of recent MI. Settings and design: The study was conducted on patients of acute MI (n=50) attending cardiology outpatient department of Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India at four to six weeks after the index event. Methods: Screening and diagnosis of depression were done by Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorder (PRIME-MD) and the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), respectively. Severity of depression was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). QOL was assessed twice, four to six and six to eight weeks after the index event by the World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL) scale. Comparisons of QOL between depressed and non depressed patients were done by standard statistical procedures. Results: The results showed that there was significant variation in QOL (p<0.0001) in non depression and depression groups. More deterioration was seen in psychological domain than other domains of QOL scale in subsequent visit. Conclusion: The non depressed MI patients scored higher in all domains of QOL than the depressed group. Routine screening of depressive symptoms should be mandatory in post MI patient to provide a holistic approach to the patient.