Impact of Depression on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults with Myocardial Infarction in the United States

Abstract

Specific Aims: We assessed the effect of depression on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among myocardial infarction (MI) survivors in the United States (US). Methods: Using the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, our study sample consisted of survey participants who were MI survivors aged 50 years and older who also reported having depression post-MI. Our dependent variable (HRQoL) comprised of number of days physical and mental health was poor during the past 30 days; activity limitations; received recommended sleep; how often emotional support received; life satisfaction and perceived general health. We conducted multivariable binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyses examining the association of presence/absence of depression on HRQoL after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and other health variables (a-priori α=0.05). Main Results: Our study sample consisted of 20,483 adults with MI; 5,343 (26.19%) reported having depression. Survivors with depression were more likely to report fair/poor general health, limitations in activity, dissatisfaction with life, and a greater number of poor mental and physical health days compared to those without depression. For example: MI survivors with depression reported 2.7 times more (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 2.65: 95% Confidence Interval 2.06-3.45; p<0.0001) fair/poor perceived general health than MI survivors without depression. There was no difference in level of emotional support or sleep quality. Conclusions: In this nationally representative sample of adults in the US, MI survivors with depression had poorer HRQoL compared to MI survivors without depression. These findings underline the need for developing appropriate supportive care for MI survivors with depression.