RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the strength of the association between the Vital exhaustion syndrome (VES) and acute coronary ischemic events in hospitalized Argentinean sample. METHODS: VES was measured in 180 patients of both sexes, 90 admitted due to an acute coronary ischemic syndrome (AMI or unstable angina) and a control group of 90 admitted due to an acute non-coronary cardiac event. VES was evaluated with the Maastricht questionnaire during the first week of hospitalization. RESULTS: Dividing the sample in two categories: exhausted and non-exhausted, 57 (63,33%) of the coronary were exhausted, while among the non coronary group, 33 were exhausted (36,66%)(OR=3.1 (1.7-5.8)). The exhaustion score was: control mean score: 17,1 (sd 8,96); case mean score: 21,1 (sd10,60) p: 0.006. Dislipemia was another factor with a significant difference: control 27 (30%) case 44 (62%) OR= 2.2 (1.2-4.1) p=0.01. Logistic regression was performed, including an interaction model between DLP and exhaustion, and it did not show a significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that in Argentina, among other countries as reported in the literature, VES is a psychological condition that is strongly and independent associated to acute coronary events.