Predictors of Depression among Older Adults with Acute Coronary Syndrome Seeking Emergency Care.

Hayajneh, Audai A; Rababa, Mohammad; Al-Nusour, Esraa A; Alsatari, Eman S

OBJECTIVES Psychological and traumatic events may cause disruption to daily life for patients, in particular, older adult patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of depression and explore its predictors among older adults with ACS seeking emergency care. METHODS Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data, using a convenience sample of 300 older adult patients with ACS seeking emergency care, was used in this study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses, including linear regression models, were conducted. RESULTS The prevalence of depression among older adult patients with ACS seeking emergency care was 65.7%. The predictors of depression among this cohort of patients were age (t=3.06, p=0.003), frailty (t=5.77, p<0.001), troponin (t=2.98, p=0.003), and hemoglobin alpha 1C (HBA1C) (t=3.18, p=0.002). The model of these predictors explained 56.6% of the variation in the outcome (depression) (Adjusted R2 =0.566, p=0.017). Depression had a significant positive correlation with each of intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) (rho=0.31, p<0.001), hospital LOS (rho=0.36, p<0.001), and frailty (rho=0.69). CONCLUSION Depression rate is high among those patients, so healthcare providers (HCPs) should assess those patients for depression and be prepared to intervene accordingly. Depression among older adult patients with ACS seeking emergency care necessitates emergency management protocol by HCPs to manage depression among this cohort of at-risk patients.