Red flags for persistent or worsening anxiety and depression after an acute cardiac event: A 6-month longitudinal study in regional and rural Australia

Abstract

Background: While early symptoms of anxiety and depression resolve for many patients soon after an acute cardiac event, the persistence or worsening of symptoms indicates increased mortality risk. It is therefore important to identify the predictors, or red flags, of persistent or worsening anxiety and depression symptoms. Most previous research has focussed on metropolitan patients, hence the need for studies of regional and rural dwellers. Method: In this study, 160 cardiac patients consecutively admitted to two hospitals in regional Victoria, Australia, were interviewed in hospital and 2 and 6 months after discharge. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depr..