Mental stress after a heart attack: results of the PsyCardio study

The FRIEDE SPRINGER - Cardiovascular Prevention Center is pleased to announce the publication of the "PsyCardio" study by psychologist (M. Sc.) Carolin Swoboda in the journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.

The PsyCardio study - a cross-sectional study - examined a total of 199 heart attack patients between May and August 2024 with the aim of recording psychological stress - including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress -, identifying risk factors for this stress and evaluating the perceived psychological care during the hospital stay due to the heart attack.

The results show that more than half (58.8%) of the respondents had at least one form of psychological stress. Specifically, 37.7% met the criteria for depression, 46.2% for anxiety disorders and 18.6% for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also significant that only 34.1% of patients were asked about their mental health during their hospital stay following a heart attack.

The analyses showed that factors such as perception of illness, loneliness, low social support, being affected by multiple heart attacks, greater anxiety during the heart attack (fear of death), a history of mental illness and being single were significantly associated with psychological distress after a heart attack.
The results emphasize that psychological distress after a heart attack occurs frequently, should be systematically recorded and integrated into cardiological care. Early recognition of psychological stress and targeted support could significantly improve the care and quality of life of heart attack patients.