Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review.

The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of existing research that has reported on the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ischemic heart disease. Specific focus is given to the incidence of PTSD following myocardial infarction (MI). A systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines was performed by searching four bibliographic databases: PubMed, PsychINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. A total of 39 articles were included in this literature review. The results of these studies suggest that the occurrence of an acute cardiac event is likely to contribute to the development of PTSD. Not only is this type of psychiatric disorder associated with significant suffering and impaired quality of life, but it is also a predictor of an increased risk of recurrent adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. Screening, assessment, and treatment of PTSD and posttraumatic stress symptoms following a major cardiac event are critical for offsetting potential deleterious psychological and physical consequences.

Relationship between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and subsequent myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Each year, nearly 790.000 new cases of myocardial infarction (MI) are recorded in the United States. Better knowledge of the modifiable risk factors for this cardiovascular disease remains a major public health issue. In this perspective, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and risk of subsequent myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: A systematic review using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines was performed by searching four bibliographic databases (PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, Science Direct and Proquest Dissertations and Theses). RESULTS: A total of 14 articles were included. Nine of these included depression as a covariate. Among 13 studies (N = 848.903), the pooled HR for the magnitude of the relationship between PTSD and MI was 1.49 (95% CI 1.31-1.69) before adjustment for depression. The pooled HR estimate for the 9 depression-adjusted estimates (N = 814.441) was 1.32 (95% CI 1.12-1.56). LIMITATIONS: These results should be considered with caution because there is high heterogeneity between studies and possible publication bias; thus, further research is required to support these results. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is still needed to identify in more precise terms the mediating factors involved in the direct association between PTSD and the subsequent occurrence of ischemic heart disease.