Determinants of depression in non-cardiac chest pain patients: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common patient complaint imposing great costs on the healthcare system. It is associated with psychological factors such as depression. The aim of the present study is determining depression predictors in NCCP patients. Methods The participants of this cross-sectional study were 361 NCCP patients. Patients filled out questionnaires concerning their sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors (severity of pain, type D personality, somatization, cardiac anxiety, fear of body sensations, and depression). Results Based on multiple ordinal logistic regression, lack of physical activity (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.87), sleep quality (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.15-7.69), being a smoker (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 2.41-4.03), present pain intensity (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.11), type D personality (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.47-4.03), and somatization (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.3) were significant predictors of depression in NCCP patients. Additionally, multiple linear regression showed that being unmarried (β = 1.51, P = 0.008), lack of physical activity (β = 1.22, P = 0.015), sleep quality (β = 2.26, P = 0.022), present pain intensity (β = 0.07, P = 0.045), type D personality (β = 1.87, P < 0.001), somatization (β = 0.45, P < 0.001), and fear of bodily sensation (β = 0.04, P = 0.032) increased significantly depression scores in NCCP patients. Conclusions Physicians should consider the predictors of depression in NCCP patients which can lead to receiving effective psychological consultations and reducing the costs and ineffectual referrals to medical centers.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Young Patients Presenting with Atypical Chest Pain with Normal Coronaries

“…Approximately, 60% of such cases eventually have a noncardiac etiology. 1,2 Non-Cardiac Chest Pain (NCCP) is presence of recurrent angina-like chest pain and no evidence of heart disease after thorough medical examinations. 2 Chest pain especially non cardiac is rarely accompanied with cardiac disease in young patients.…”

“…1,2 Non-Cardiac Chest Pain (NCCP) is presence of recurrent angina-like chest pain and no evidence of heart disease after thorough medical examinations. 2 Chest pain especially non cardiac is rarely accompanied with cardiac disease in young patients. Young patients who present with unexplained chest pain are usually found to have high levels of depression and anxiety.…”