Abstract

Objectives: This research was carried out to investigate the relationship between depression and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after Myocardial Infarction (MI).

Method: In a prospective study 176 patients aged between 32 and 84 with a mean age of 56 years (SD 10.05) who were admitted with a diagnosis of MI to coronary care unit (CCU) in the city of Isfahan during the first five months of 2006, were selected using convenience sampling.  Demographic and medical information were collected and LVEF after MI was measured by either echocardiography or angiography. The patients were then evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care (BDI­PC) three months after MI. Data collected during hospitalization and follow-up phase were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: The results showed that left ventricular dysfunction, which is indicated by LVEF is significantly associated with depression three months after MI (p<0.01). This predictive model (which only includes LVEF) also yielded 64.8% maximum predictive efficiency with 55.7% sensitivity and 72.1% specificity.

Conclusion: Left ventricular dysfunction is associated with the risk of post-MI depression.