title: [Major depression as a new risk factor for coronary heart disease in Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depression, a frequent psychiatric disease, is associated with ischemic heart disease. It is usually subdiagnosed and subtreated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of major depression among survivors of an acute myocardial infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 42 survivors of an acute myocardial infarction treated at a regional Chilean Hospital. The presence of major depression in the 6 months previous to the acute myocardial infarction, was investigated using the diagnostic instruments CIDI (Composite International Diagnostic Interview) and DIS (Diagnostic Interview Schedule), psychiatric diagnoses were based on DSMIII-R. The prevalence of depression was compared with that observed in a group of 156 healthy subjects participating in a psychiatric epidemiological study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major depression was diagnosed in 12 male subjects with an acute myocardial infarction. The prevalence in the control group was significantly lower (15%, p < 0.049). Patients with depression were older and required longer hospital stay than patients without depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with acute myocardial infarction, had a significantly greater prevalence of major depression in the previous 6 months, than the general population. Thus, major depression could be an independent and modifiable coronary risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Cardiología Cardiokines Clinics, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Unidad de Epidemiología, Hospital Dr. E Torres G. Iquique, Chile. mvaraya@terra.cl
authors.forename: María Virginia
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madariaga
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ureta
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomé
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bustos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution