Depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life following acute myocardial infarction
By
Manuel Mallol-Simmonds
Claudia Gay Rojas
Ivan Cañete Palta
Criss Diaz
Alfredo Parra-Lucares
June 29, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life After Acute Myocardial Infarction
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Acute Myocardial Infarction Key Mechanisms Depressive symptoms are associated with lower health-related quality of life post-infarction. Target Population Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in public healthcare settings. Care Setting Public tertiary care hospital in Chile.
Key Highlights
94.1% of patients exhibited at least mild depressive symptoms. Higher depressive symptom severity correlated with lower physical and mental health scores. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with poorer quality of life. Mortality analyses were descriptive due to limited events. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) for evaluating depressive symptoms. Management
Integrate mental health assessments into post-infarction follow-up. Monitoring & Follow-up
Assess health-related quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire. Risks
Depressive symptoms are linked to increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Patient & Prescribing Data
Survivors of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Depressive symptoms may hinder adherence to secondary prevention medications and cardiac rehabilitation.
Clinical Best Practices
Conduct regular mental health evaluations in post-infarction patients. Utilize validated tools for assessing depressive symptoms and quality of life. Related Resources & Content
