Depressive symptoms and healthcare utilization in patients with noncardiac chest pain compared to patients with ischemic heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
We compared depressive symptoms and healthcare utilization in patients admitted for noncardiac chest pain, acute myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris after hospitalization and at 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-one patients with noncardiac chest pain, 66 with acute myocardial infarction, and 70 with angina pectoris completed a depression screening questionnaire and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Healthcare utilization data were collected from a population-based, diagnosis-related database.


RESULTS
More than 25% of respondents reported depressive symptoms, regardless of diagnosis. At follow-up, 9% had recovered, 19% were still experiencing depressive symptoms, and 13% had developed depressive symptoms. Noncardiac patients with chest pain had similar primary care contacts, but fewer hospital admissions, than patients with an acute myocardial infarction. Patients with angina pectoris and depressive symptoms used the most healthcare services.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms were common. Patients with noncardiac chest pain used as much primary care as did patients with an acute myocardial infarction. Interventions should focus on identifying and treating depressive symptoms.
Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden. ghassan.mourad@liu.se
Ghassan
G
Mourad
Tiny
T
Jaarsma
Claes
C
Hallert
Anna
A
Strömberg
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult