<p>Heart rate variability and incidence of depression during the first six months following first myocardial infarction</p>

Abstract

BackgroundPost-myocardial depression is a highly prevalent condition worsening the course and prognosis of coronary artery disease. One of the possible pathogenetic factors is dysregulation of the autonomous nervous system, resulting in heart rate variability reduction.MethodsTwenty two patients hospitalised due to a first myocardial infarction were included. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to rate the severity of their depressive symptoms.ResultsDepressive symptomatology, defined as BDI ≥10, was present in 36.3% of the patients. Increase in heart rate variability (HRV) was observed in both groups during the first 6 months after the myocardial infarction. The HRV was significantly lower in the depressed group compared to patients without depression.ConclusionPresence of depression after the myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with a significant decrease of the time domain HRV measure SDNN (standard deviation of all normal RR intervals) and with its slower increase during at least a three months period.