Post-myocardial infarction depression was associated with a significantly flattened diurnal serum cortisol profile compared to patients without depression.
Observational (n=37)
No
Does post-myocardial infarction depression alter the diurnal serum cortisol profile in patients with a first STEMI?
Patients with depressive symptoms directly after a first myocardial infarction exhibit a flattened diurnal serum cortisol profile, which may reflect HPA axis dysregulation.
valor p: p=0.0328
BACKGROUND: Post-myocardial depression is a highly prevalent condition which worsens the course and prognosis of coronary artery disease. One possible pathogenetic factor is dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in cortisol profile disturbances. METHODS: Thirty seven patients hospitalized due to a first myocardial infarction (MI) were enrolled in this study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to rate the severity of their depressive symptoms. Morning and afternoon serum cortisol samples were taken on the fifth day of the MI. RESULTS: Depression, defined as BDI ≥ 10, was present in 34.4% of the patients. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean morning and the evening plasma concentrations in patients with depression compared to the no-depression group: F (1.29) = 5.0405, p = 0.0328. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with depressive symptoms directly after MI have a flattened diurnal serum cortisol profile. This is particularly expressed in patients with longer lasting symptoms.
Wilkowska et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Post-myocardial infarction depression (n=37). Depression (BDI ≥ 10) vs. No depression (BDI < 10) was evaluated on Difference between mean morning and evening plasma cortisol concentrations (p=0.0328). Post-myocardial infarction depression was associated with a significantly flattened diurnal serum cortisol profile compared to patients without depression.