Initiation of β-blocker therapy and depression after acute myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although β-blockers reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), early reports linking β-blocker use with subsequent depression have potentially limited their use in vulnerable patients. We sought to provide empirical evidence to support or refute this concern by examining the association between β-blocker initiation and change in depressive symptoms in AMI patients.

Methods

Using data from 2 US multicenter, prospective registries of AMI patients, we examined 1-, 6-, and 12-month changes in depressive symptoms after the index hospitalization among patients who were β-blocker-naïve on admission. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the validated 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), which rates depressive symptoms from 0 to 24, with higher

SUBMITTER: Ranchord AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4802859 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature