Women with acute coronary syndrome experience a disproportionate burden of psychological distress, longer treatment delays, fewer invasive interventions, and higher mortality rates compared with men.
Women experience a disproportionate burden of psychological distress before and after ACS, highlighting the potential value of screening to identify patients at increased risk for complications.
Psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic or acute stress, and negative emotions) is both a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a common consequence of ACS, with important sex differences. Compared with men, women experience a disproportionate burden of psychological distress before and after ACS. Women with ACS also have longer treatment delays, receive fewer invasive interventions, and have higher mortality rates. Screening for psychological distress in patients with ACS may help identify those at increased risk for complications.
Magin et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Psychological Distress. Women with acute coronary syndrome experience a disproportionate burden of psychological distress, longer treatment delays, fewer invasive interventions, and higher mortality rates compared with men.