[The quality of life related to depressive symptoms in coronary artery disease patients after successful coronary angioplasty: one-year follow up].

AIM The aim of the study was to assess how the comorbidity of depressive symptoms and cardiac ischemic disease (CAD) influences the quality of life (QoL) in patients after the successful coronary angioplasty (PCI). METHOD 227 patients with CAD selected for PTCA were enrolled. 156 patients with full clinical and angiographic success and without restenosis within 4 weeks after the intervention were included in one year follow-up. Patients' status was assessed four times (one day before and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the intervention), with the Polish version of SF-36, Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RS), Beck's Hopelessness Scale (HS) and the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ). RESULTS In the whole study group (n=156) the quality of life at 1 month after PTCA was significantly improved. This tendency persisted in further examinations. There was a significant correlation between the quality of life (SF-36), severity of depressive symptoms (BDI) and parameters describing depressive changes in thinking (HS, RS, ATQ). On each occasion during the one-year follow-up' the presence of depressive symptoms was associated with the poorer quality of life, both with respect to the total SF-36 points and individual components of QoL measured by 8 subscales of the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS Present findings indicate that depressive disorders in patients with CAD--even after successful intervention--significantly affect the quality of life. Optimized comprehensive approach to CAD patients with concomitant depressive disorders may require the inclusion of psychological interventions, and in severe cases even psychiatric treatment.