Past history of myocardial infarction, non-specific chest pain, and Angina Grade II were strongly associated with psychiatric disorder in a community sample of 2204 middle-aged men.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,204)
Is ischaemic heart disease associated with minor psychiatric disorder in middle-aged men?
Symptomatic ischaemic heart disease and non-specific chest pain are strongly associated with psychiatric disorder in middle-aged men, whereas asymptomatic ECG ischaemia is not.
Associations between ischaemic heart disease and psychiatric morbidity in hospital recruited samples may be confounded by differential referral of patients with co-morbidity. Associations of angina, past history of myocardial infarction, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia with psychiatric disorder can best be examined in community samples as reported here in 2204 middle-aged men from the Caerphilly Collaborative Study. There was a strong association between past history of myocardial infarction, non-specific chest pain, Angina Grade II and psychiatric disorder measured by the 30-item General Health Questionnaire. Electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia alone was not significantly associated with psychiatric disorder. It is suggested that non-specific chest pain is a symptom of psychiatric disorder; conversely in severe angina psychiatric disorder is secondary to the pain, restricted activity and threat to life which angina implies.
Stansfeld et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Ischaemic heart disease and minor psychiatric disorder (n=2,204). Ischaemic heart disease indicators (past myocardial infarction, angina, ECG ischaemia) was evaluated on Psychiatric disorder measured by the 30-item General Health Questionnaire. Past history of myocardial infarction, non-specific chest pain, and Angina Grade II were strongly associated with psychiatric disorder in a community sample of 2204 middle-aged men.