ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation belongs to the group of supraventricular arrhythmias. The episode begins with anxiety about the loss of health or life. Anxiety is accompanied by depressive disorders. The aim of this work was to study the intensity of depression in patients with atrial fibrillation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used Beck Depression Inventory in 52 patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalized at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Poviat Hospital in Bialogard. Correlations between the intensity of depression and age, gender, and education level were determined. RESULTS: The intensity of depression depended on age, gender, and education level. Mild depression was more common in women, moderate in men, and was very severe in 2 women. Patients between the age of 61 and 80 years and with incomplete primary and vocational education presented with all forms of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The intensity of depression correlates with episodes of atrial fibrillation and depends on such factors as age, gender, and education level (p < 0.05). Effective therapy of atrial fibrillation may help reduce the intensity of depression.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology , Depression/classification , Depression/epidemiology , Depressive Disorder/classification , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrial Fibrillation/therapy , Causality , Comorbidity , Depression/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Educational Status , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation is a common supraventrical arrhythmia. The onset of fibrillation is marked by fear of loss of health or life. Symptoms of depression occur concurrently. This study was undertaken to measure anxiety in patients with atrial fibrillation grouped according to gender, age, and education. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The test anxiety inventory of C.D. Spielberger was administered to 52 patients aged 41 to 80 years, treated for atrial fibrillation at the Internal Ward of the District Hospital in Bialogard. RESULTS: Anxiety as a state was observed more frequently in males and in patients with vocational and secondary education. Anxiety was not a trait of atrial fibrillation. Psychotherapeutic interventions used in cardiac rehabilitation are not recommended in atrial fibrillation. However, relaxation techniques could be of benefit in reducing the intensity of anxiety as a state.
