@article{ref1,
title="Spousal depression, anxiety, and suicide after myocardial infarction",
journal="European heart journal",
year="2013",
author="Fosbøl, Emil L. and Peterson, Eric D. and Weeke, Peter and Wang, Tracy Y. and Mathews, Robin and Kober, Lars and Thomas, Laine and Gislason, Gunnar H. and Torp-Pedersen, Christian",
volume="34",
number="9",
pages="649-656",
abstract="AimsDeath of a spouse from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) presents hardship, yet few studies have investigated the psychological consequences of fatal and non-fatal AMI on spouses.Methods and resultsSeveral Danish national registries were linked to identify individuals whose spouses had a fatal or non-fatal AMI. Married patients with fatal or non-fatal AMI (1997-2008) were matched with their counterparts dying or hospitalized with a non-AMI cause; incident use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines, incident depression care, and suicides were compared pre- and post-event using Poisson models. Overall, 16 506 spouses of individuals dying of AMI were matched with 49 518 spouses of individuals dying of a non-AMI cause. Similarly, 44 566 spouses of individuals with a non-fatal AMI were matched with 131 563 spouses of individuals with a non-fatal, non-AMI hospitalization. Those whose spouse died of AMI (compared with a non-AMI cause) had increased antidepressant and benzodiazepine use [peak incidence rate ratio (IRR) 5.7 vs. 3.3, and 46.4 vs. 13.0, respectively; P< 0.001]. Those whose spouse had a non-fatal AMI (compared with a non-AMI hospitalization) had increased risk for antidepressant and benzodiazepine initiation (IRR 1.5 vs. 1.1, and 6.7 vs. 1.3, respectively, P< 0.001). Spouses of fatal AMI patients also had an increased risk of depression and suicide. Male individuals whose spouse had a fatal or non-fatal AMI had a relatively higher increased risk of depression than female individuals.ConclusionSpouses of those who experience AMIs-both fatal and non-fatal-are at elevated risk for psychological consequences; therefore, the care needs of AMI patients and their spouses need to be considered.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-668X",
doi="10.1093/eurheartj/ehs242",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehs242"
}