Depression and Perceived Stress After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Comparison With Other Acute Myocardial Infarction (the VIRGO Experience)

Data on depression and stress among patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are limited. Using data from the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients) study, which prospectively enrolled 3,572 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients between 18 and 55 years of age, we identified 67 SCAD cases. We compared Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) scores obtained at baseline, 1 month, and 12 months between SCAD and AMI of all other causes. Using longitudinal linear mixed-effects analysis, we compared depression and stress scores between SCAD and other AMI, adjusting for time and selected covariates. Patients with SCAD had lower baseline PHQ-9 scores (6.1 ± 6.0 vs 7.7 ± 6.4 for other patients with AMI, p = 0.03), similar 1-month scores, and lower 12-month scores (3.2 ± 4.3 vs 4.9 ± 5.5, p = 0.004). At baseline and 1 month, patients with SCAD had similar PSS-14 scores to those of other patients with AMI. At 12 months, patients with SCAD had lower scores (18.4 ± 8.8 vs 21.5 ± 9.3 for other patients with AMI, p = 0.009). After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and clinical acuity, no differences in PHQ-9 or PSS-14 scores remained between SCAD and other AMI. Similar results were obtained in a subgroup analysis of only women with SCAD and other AMI. In conclusion, patients with SCAD had a relatively lower burden of depression and perceived stress than other patients with AMI, potentially because of fewer co-morbidities and favorable socioeconomic factors. However, given high depression and stress burden in both SCAD and other patients with AMI, routine screening can help identify and treat these patients.