Objective: To compare the incidence of emotional disorder in patients with acute or stable coronary heart disease.
Methods: A total of 298 patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) were designed into three groups based on of coronary angiography results: acute coronary syndrome (ACS, n = 128), stable angina pectoris (SAP, n = 108) and non-CHD (n = 62). All patients were evaluated by Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) for depression and anxiety before coronary angiography (CAG), 3 days after CAG, and 1 day before discharge.
Results: Incidences of depression and anxiety were significantly higher the ACS group (65.6%and 78.9% before CAG; 60.9% and 70.3% 3 days post CAG; 45.3%and 64.8% before discharge) compared patients with SAP (18.5% and 26.9% before CAG; 17.6% and 28.7% 3 days post CAG; 15.7% and 26.9% before discharge, all P < 0.05 vs. ACS) and non-CHD patients (32.3% and 25.8% before CAG; 27.4% and 24.2% 3 days post CAG; 29.0% and 30.6% before discharge, all P < 0.05 vs. ACS) while the depression and anxiety incidences were similar between patients with SAP and non-CHD in this cohort (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Emotional disorder is common in patients with suspected heart diseases, especially in patients with ACS. Psychological distress of patients with suspected heart disease should be evaluated and treated.