Depressive Symptoms in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 and Acute Coronary Syndrome

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Besides well-known pulmonary complications, other frequent detrimental health consequences included cardiovascular, thromboembolic, and mental health disorders. A high incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) with both short- and long-term outcomes was influenced by the disease severity and related complications, including mental health challenges, depression, and anxiety. The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence of depressive symptoms (somatic and cognitive) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and concomitant cardiovascular disease (CVD). Depression screening was conducted in 101 patients who survived SARS-CoV-2 infection during the 2020-2022 period. Of the study sample, 54 (53.5%) were female, and 47 (46.5%) were male, with the mean age of 55 (15.9 SD) years. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) one to three months after hospital discharge. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 and ACS demonstrated a higher frequency of depressive symptoms compared to COVID-19-only patients without ACS. Statistically significant differences were observed in somatic symptoms (sleeplessness, irritability, loss of appetite, difficulties in concentration, tiredness), as well as in cognitive symptoms (loneliness, sadness, crying, fatigue, self-hatred, loss of interests, devaluation, indecision, and agitation). Our study findings suggest that acute severe illness (SARS-CoV-2 and ACS), elderly age, and the presence of chronic diseases can contribute to depressive mood. These observations highlight the need for multidisciplinary care involving cardiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and rehabilitation specialists with a comprehensive assessment of depressive symptoms and consideration of classical risk factors, which can potentially affect prognosis. However, these findings should be interpreted as associative, given the cross-sectional design of the study and the presence of confounding factors.