Key result
Post-ACS cardiac distress tracks with female sex, lower socioeconomic status, and polypharmacy.
Why the study?
ACS imposes substantial psychological and cardiovascular disease-related distress influenced by socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants, which must be identified to improve outcomes and provide holistic care.
Observational (n=105)
No
p-value: p=<0.05
Cardiovascular disease-related distress among ACS patients is highly domain-specific and significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, age, gender, and polypharmacy, emphasizing the need for individualized psychosocial care.
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) imposes substantial psychological and cardiovascular disease-related distress, influenced by socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants. Identifying these determinants is essential for improving patient outcomes and delivering holistic patient-centered care. This study aimed to assess cardiovascular disease-related distress among patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and examine its association with psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants. A prospective observational study was conducted over five months at a tertiary care hospital after obtaining ethical approval. A total of 105 adult patients diagnosed with ACS by a cardiologist were enrolled. Patients aged ≥ 18 years, of either gender, who provided written informed consent were included in the study. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and cardiovascular disease-related distress were assessed using a structured distress assessment tool comprising domains including Fear and Uncertainty, Changes to Role and Responsibilities, Economic Impact, and Overwhelm and Depletion. Data regarding psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants were collected and analyzed to evaluate their association with distress levels. The highest distress scores were observed in the domains of changes in roles and relationships, overwhelm and depletion, and fear and uncertainty. Significant associations were identified between cardiovascular distress and socioeconomic status, age, gender, and polypharmacy ( p < 0.05). Patients from lower socioeconomic classes and rural areas demonstrated higher psychosocial and economic distress, while female participants reported significantly greater distress in role-related and medication-management domains. No significant association was observed between distress and ACS subtype or comorbidity burden. Cardiovascular disease-related distress among ACS patients varied across specific psychosocial domains rather than uniformly affecting all aspects of patient well-being. Distinct patterns of distress were observed across socioeconomic groups, highlighting the influence of psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants on cardiovascular distress. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying domain-specific distress to facilitate targeted and individualized patient care.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Desai et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Acute Coronary Syndrome (n=105). Psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants vs. Reference demographic and socioeconomic groups was evaluated on Association of cardiovascular disease-related distress (assessed via Cardiac Distress Inventory) with psychosocial and socioeconomic determinants (p=<0.05). Cardiovascular disease-related distress in ACS patients was highest in domains of role changes, overwhelm, and fear, and was significantly associated with lower socioeconomic status, female gender, and polypharmacy (p < 0.05).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: