Gender comparison in depressive symptoms and use of antidepressant medications after acute coronary syndrome

• Published in: Applied nursing research Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 73 - 79
• Main Authors: Shin, Nah-Mee, Hagerty, Bonnie, Williams, Reg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2010; W.B. Saunders Company/JNL
• Subjects: Acute Coronary Syndrome - complications; Acute Coronary Syndrome - psychology; Acute coronary syndromes; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antidepressant drugs; Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Attitude to Health; Chi-Square Distribution; Coronary diseases; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - etiology; Drug therapy; Female; Gender differences; Humans; Male; Men - psychology; Michigan - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing Methodology Research; Prescribed; Prospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Studies; Survivors; Survivors - psychology; Women - psychology; Michigan
• ISSN: 0897-1897; 1532-8201
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2008.04.002

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) affects many aspects of female and male survivors' lives. This prospective longitudinal study explored gender differences in 100 patients hospitalized with ACS and 1 month follow-up. There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms (DS) by gender. However, significantly more females than males had a history of depression and reported being prescribed and taking antidepressants. Considering that 18 nonrespondents had higher DS at Time 1 than the did the others, DS at Time 2 could have been higher given that patients who are depressed tended not to respond at Time 2. Therefore, health care providers need to pay more attention to DS in ACS survivors, especially women whose early recovery experience might be different from men.