Suicidal Ideation Predicts Functioning and Quality of Life Over One Year after Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study investigated the associations of suicidal ideation (SI) evaluated within 2 weeks after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) episode with functioning, disability, and quality of life (QOL) at a 1-year follow-up assessment. MethodsThis study recruited 1152 consecutive patients within 2 weeks of a confirmed ACS episode; 828 of these patients who were followed up 1 year later comprised the study sample. SI was determined at baseline using the “suicidal thoughts” item of the MontgomeryÅsberg Depression Rating Scale. At both examinations, social and occupational functioning were measured by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), disability was estimated by World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-12 (WHODAS-12), and QOL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Abbreviated form (WHOQOL-BREF). Baseline covariates included sociodemographic data, depression characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and current cardiac status. ResultsSI at baseline was independently associated with less improved or decreased scores on the SOFAS, WHODAS-12, and WHOQOL-BREF over 1 year after adjusting for relevant covariates. ConclusionSI within 2 weeks of an ACS episode predicted poorer functioning and QOL at a 1-year follow-up assessment. Thus, the simple evaluation of SI in patients with recently developed ACS could be helpful in screening for functioning and QOL during the chronic phase of this disease.

The associations between depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and quality of life, in patients with major depression: undirected and Bayesian network analyses

“…Both undirected and directed analyses identified a connection between suicidal ideation and a reduced QOL and the most likely direction was from suicidal ideation to QOL, rather than vice versa. This was in line with other studies finding that suicidal ideation was associated with QOL (Almeida et al, 2021;Beşirli, Alptekin, Kaymak, & Özer, 2020;van Spijker et al, 2020) and suicidal thinking may reduce QOL (Hidalgo-Rasmussen & Martín, 2015;Kim et al, 2019;van Spijker, van Straten, Kerkhof, Hoeymans, & Smit, 2011). It should be noted that there are also some previous studies indicating that a low QOL could be a risk factor for suicidal ideation (Fairweather-Schmidt, Batterham, Butterworth, & Nada-Raja, 2016;Faure et al, 2018;Sinclair, Hawton, & Gray, 2010;van Spijker et al, 2020).…”