Differences between men and women in anxiety early after acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anxiety after acute myocardial infarction influences both short- and long-term recovery. Therefore, determining specific subgroups of patients who have relatively higher anxiety levels is important. Published findings about gender differences in anxiety after acute myocardial infarction are conflicting. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether gender differences in anxiety after acute myocardial infarction exist and whether any of the sociodemographic and clinical variables that often differ between men and women with acute myocardial infarction interact with gender to influence anxiety. METHODS: A total of 424 patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study. Patients' anxiety level was measured within 72 hours of their arrival at the hospital by using the State Anxiety Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory. RESULTS: Women had significantly higher anxiety than did men according to both the State Anxiety Inventory (42 +/- 12.9 vs 37.7 +/- 12.5; P = .001) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (0.83 +/- 0.97 vs 0.63 +/- 0.71; P = .02). Of the sociodemographic and clinical variables examined, only marital status and income significantly interacted with gender to influence anxiety. Married women had higher anxiety than did single and widowed women, and married men had lower anxiety than did single men. Women with lower income had higher anxiety than did women with higher income; income was not related to anxiety in men. CONCLUSION: Women report significantly greater anxiety early after acute myocardial infarction than men do. Women's greater anxiety may be partially explained by marital status and lower income at the time of the infarction.

Risk factors associated with transfer anxiety among patients transferring from the intensive care unit to the ward

“…One investigated transfer anxiety from a cardiac ICU to a ward (Tel & Tel 2006) and did not find a statistically significant relationship. The two other studies (Kim et al. 2000, Garvin et al.…”

“…Two studies were carried out to examine the relationship between gender and anxiety (Kim et al. 2000, Garvin et al.…”

Female-Specific Education, Management, and Lifestyle Enhancement for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients: The FEMALE-ICD Study

“…Women experience a higher incidence of depression and anxiety after myocardial infarction (MI), stent implantation, or congestive heart failure (CHF), in comparison with males, 15, 20–24 which presents a considerable risk of poorer health outcomes for females 25–28 . The available research suggests that women are highly at risk for the development of distress after ICD implantation, 12,16,19 possibly due to body satisfaction issues, sexuality, femininity, and socialization 29,30 .…”

Gender Disparities in Psychological Distress and Quality of Life among Patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

“…Following myocardial infarction, stent implantation, or congestive heart failure, the prevalence of anxiety and depression has been found to be higher in women than in men. [20][21][22][23] This difference in the prevalence of psychological distress might be attributed to gender differences in susceptibility to concerns about body image, shifts in role responsibilities, and changes in physical functioning 24 but also to differences in somatosensory amplification. 25 Somatosensory amplification refers to a greater awareness of and attention to weak or diffuse bodily sensations, which can result in the tendency to perceive normal somatic sensations as unusually intense.…”