The prevalence of anxiety and depression in cardiac arrest survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Lower Perceived Social Support During Hospitalization by Close Family Members may have Significant Associations with Psychological Distress 1 Month After Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

The perception of having poor social support is associated with worse symptoms of psychological distress in close family members of critically ill patients, yet this has never been tested after cardiac arrest.

METHODS

Close family members of consecutive patients with cardiac arrest hospitalized at an academic tertiary care center participated in a prospective study. The validated Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) cued to index hospitalization was administered before discharge. Multivariate linear regressions estimated the associations between the total MSPSS score and total scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2), and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), assessed 1 month after cardiac arrest.

RESULTS

In 102 participants (mean age 52 ± 15 years, 70% female, 21% Black, 33% Hispanic) with complete data, the prevalence of depression, generalized anxiety, and probable posttraumatic stress disorder at a median duration of 28.5 days (interquartile range 10-63 days) from cardiac arrest was 61%, 34%, and 13%, respectively. A lower MSPSS score was significantly associated with higher PHQ-8 scores (β =  - 0.11 [95% confidence interval - 0.04 to - 0.18]; p < 0.01), even after adjusting for family members' age, sex, prior psychiatric condition, and witnessing of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and patient's discharge disposition (β =  - 0.11 [95% confidence interval - 0.02 to - 0.15]; p < 0.01). Similarly, significant inverse associations of total MSPSS scores were seen with 1-month GAD-2 and PCL-5 scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor social support during hospitalization, as perceived by close family members of cardiac arrest survivors, is associated with worse depressive symptoms at 1 month. Temporal changes in social networks and psychological distress warrant further investigation.

Lower perceived social support is significantly associated with elevated levels of psychological distress in racially and ethnically diverse close family members of cardiac arrest survivors

Background

Poor perceived social support has been associated with worse psychological distress in close family members after their loved one's hospitalization with prolonged mechanical ventilation, but never been tested after cardiac arrest.

Methods

Close family members of consecutive cardiac arrest patients hospitalized at an academic tertiary care center were recruited before hospital discharge, and perceived social support was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Indicators of psychological distress were administered via telephone at 1 month after cardiac arrest. Multivariate linear regressions were used to estimate the associations between MSPSS total score and total Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) score (primary outcome) and total PTSD (PCL-5) and generalized anxiety (GAD-2) scores, after adjusting for previously known covariates.

Results

Of 102 close family members (mean age 52 ± 15 years, 70% female, 40% non-Hispanic white, 21% Black, 33% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% with pre-existing psychiatric illness) with complete data, the mean PHQ-8 total score at a median duration of 28.5 days (interquartile range 10-63 days) from cardiac arrest was 7± 6, and the mean MSPSS score was 69 ± 15. Lower perceived social support was significantly associated with elevated levels of depressive symptoms in univariate (β=-0.11; p<0.01) and after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and previous psychiatric history (β=-0.11; p<0.01). Similar inverse associations were seen with 1 month PTSD and generalized anxiety symptoms as secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

Close family members of cardiac arrest survivors' perception of poor social support during hospitalization is associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms at 1 month. Longitudinal studies understanding the temporal associations between social support and psychological distress are warranted.