For a study, researchers sought to evaluate the influence of acute stress on day-30 outcomes. They assessed the patients’ perceptions of threats during the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the emergency department (ED).
In the ED, they accepted ACS patients. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale (PCLS), Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) in stress evaluation, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were utilized after discharge.
On day 30, PTSD was present in 35 individuals (31.8%). High PSS scores at admission (OR=1.4; CI=1.1-1.8; P=0.004) and/or high PHQ-9 scores at day-30 (OR=1.5; CI=1.2-1.9; P<0.001) were the independent predictors of developing PTSD at day-30. In the group of individuals with PTSD, the chest discomfort returned more frequently. Patients who reported non-therapeutic adherence to their cardiovascular medication were more likely to have PTSD symptoms.
The treatment of individuals with ACS should incorporate stress management in emergency departments on a regular basis. In order to enhance patients’ outcomes after discharge, the study underlined the value of multidisciplinary follow-up and early detection of individuals at risk for PTSD.
Reference: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735675722005538
