Women ‘at greater risk of mental health issues after heart attacks’

Women are more likely to experience poor mental health after suffering from a heart attack, according to a new study published at the 2014 Acute Cardiovascular Care conference.

The study included 160 patients admitted with a myocardial infarction to the Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics in Lithuania and examined their mental health for at least a month after the heart attack.

It was found that nearly one-quarter of patients in the study were depressed and 28.2 percent had received treatment with antidepressants, with women more likely to develop anxiety and depression than men.

The researchers also found an association between anxiety and smoking, which may be worthy of further study. Overall, it was concluded that heart attack patients, particularly women, need to be screened for anxiety and depression to ensure timely treatment delivery.

Study leader professor Pranas Serpytis said: "Our study suggests that encouraging patients to quit smoking and increase their physical activity levels should reduce their risks of anxiety and depression after myocardial infarction."

Around 50,000 men and 32,000 women have a heart attack each year in England, making them one of the most common reasons why a person may require emergency medical treatment.