RT-169
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Depression in post-myocardial
infarction patients: a new risk factor for sudden death?
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Maria Vittoria Pitzalis, Luana
Ligurgo, Andrea Passantino§, Orlando Todarello*, Giovanni Dello Russo*, Paolo Rizzon.
Institute of Cardiology, University of Bari, §Division of Cardiology, "S.
Maugeri" Foundation IRCCS, Cassano Murge, Bari, *Institute of Psychiatry II,
University of Bari, Italy
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Abstract
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Behavioral and psychological factors seem to play a
relevant role in the genesis and progression of coronary heart disease and also to have
modified long-term mortality in patients who survived an acute myocardial infarction. In
particular, several studies have demonstrated that post-myocardial infarction patients
showing symptoms and/or signs of depression have an increased risk of cardiac events and,
in particular, sudden death, as compared to patients without depression. The negative
prognostic role of depression is particularly evident if it is associated with frequent
premature ventricular contractions.
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Key Words
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Sudden Death
post myocardial patients, behavioral-psychological factors, depression, premature
ventricular contractions, cardiac mortality risk, CAPS trial, dopamine tone, autonomic
nervous system, R
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