Gender Differences in Early Complications After STEMI and Their Associations With Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The female gender is known to be associated with a poor outcome in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Anxiety and depression are more common in women and they may contribute to the increase in early complications after STEMI. We sought to determine the gender differences in early complications after STEMI and their relationship with patients’ anxiety and depression.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is used to screen depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A).

RESULTS: A total of 188 patients (age 56.8±10.5, 69.2% male) with STEMI were included in this study. The incidence of early complications was significantly higher in women than in men (50.0% vs. 14.6%, p<0.001). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was significantly higher in women than in men (60.3% vs. 40.0% and 50.0% vs. 14.6%, respectively). In multivariable analyses, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) level (OR: 0.942; 0.891-0.996, p=0.036), HADS-A (OR: 1.593; 1.341-1.891, p<0.001) and HADS-D (OR: 1.254; 1.057-1.488, p=0.01) scores were found to be independent risk factors for early complications after STEMI.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of early complications and the prevalence of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in women. LVEF level, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores were found to be independent risk factors for early complications.