Effects of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Stable Angina Patients

OBJECTIVE Depression is present in 1 of 5 outpatients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and a well-documented risk factor for recurrent cardiac events and mortality. We examined the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), on depressive symptoms, in chronic stable angina (CSA) patients. METHODS On prospective and non-randomized trial, consecutive CSA patients (n=171), who had undergone coronary angiography from January 2006 to December 2007, were included. Patients were subdivided into PCI and non-PCI groups, and then completed 21-item the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), at the baseline and pre-discharge, to assess the depressive symptoms. RESULTS A total of 108 (63%) patients were assigned to the non-PCI group, and 63 (37%) patients to the PCI group. Using an independent t-test, we found that patients with PCI were significantly older (non-PCI vs. PCI; 57±11 vs. 64±10, years, p<0.001), had more joint disease (12.0 vs. 27.0%, p=0.013), more stroke history (5.6 vs. 17.5%, p=0.012) and higher incident of family history of cardiovascular disease (28.7 vs. 46.0%, p=0.025), but less religion (54.6 vs. 36.5%, p=0.002) and private health insurance (43.5 vs. 20.6%, p=0.002). The mean difference of BDI-II score between the baseline and pre-discharge was higher in patients with PCI (OR: 1.266; 95% CI: 1.146-1.398, p<0.001). CONCLUSION In conclusion, PCI contributes independently to higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in CSA patients during hospitalization; Routine assessment and management of PCI related depressive symptoms are justified.