Beta-Blockers and Depression After Myocardial Infarction

Menopause-Associated Depression: Impact of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation on the Central Nervous System-A Review

Perimenopausal depression, occurring shortly before or after menopause, is characterized by symptoms such as emotional depression, anxiety, and stress, often accompanied by endocrine dysfunction, particularly hypogonadism and senescence. Current treatments for perimenopausal depression primarily provide symptomatic relief but often come with undesirable side effects. The development of agents targeting the specific pathologies of perimenopausal depression has been relatively slow. The erratic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the perimenopausal stage expose women to the risk of developing perimenopausal-associated depression. These hormonal changes trigger the production of proinflammatory mediators and induce oxidative stress, leading to progressive neuronal damage. This review serves as a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms contributing to perimenopausal depression. It aims to shed light on the complex relationship between perimenopausal hormones, neurotransmitters, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and perimenopausal depression. By summarizing the intricate interplay between hormonal fluctuations, neurotransmitter activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factors, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and perimenopausal depression, this review aims to stimulate further research in this field. The hope is that an increased understanding of these mechanisms will pave the way for the development of more effective therapeutic targets, ultimately reducing the risk of depression during the menopausal stage for the betterment of psychological wellbeing.

Severe depressive symptoms in patients with hypertension: Are antihypertensive medications implicated?

OBJECTIVE

This study examined whether antihypertensive medications and other patient characteristics are associated with severe depressive symptoms in patients with hypertension.

METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of hypertension were recruited from the internal medicine outpatient clinics of a hospital in Amman, Jordan, into this cross-sectional study. Depression severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); anxiety by the General Anxiety Disorder-7; sleep quality by the Insomnia Severity Index; and psychological stress by the Perceived Stress Scale. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between the different classes of antihypertensive medication and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Of the 431 participants, 282 (65.4%) were men; 240 (55.7%) reported having type 2 diabetes; 359 (83.3%) had dyslipidemia; 142 (32.9%) were on beta-blockers; 197 (45.2%) were on ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers; 203 (47.1%) were on metformin; and 133 (30.9%) were taking sulfonylurea. Severe depressive symptoms, indicated by scoring above the cut-off of 14 on the PHQ-9, were present in 165 (38.3%) patients. Severe depression was associated with younger age (<55 years) (OR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.83-5.41, P < 0.001), unemployment (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.15-4.00, P = 0.01), diabetes (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.09-3.02, P = 0.02), severe anxiety (OR = 6.40, 95% CI = 3.64-11.28, P < 0.001), and severe insomnia (OR = 4.73, 95% CI = 2.85-7.82, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Severe depressive symptoms were not associated with antihypertensive medications or other drugs used by hypertensive patients. Younger age, diabetes, anxiety, and insomnia were the primary correlates of depression.

Pathophysiological mechanisms of post-myocardial infarction depression: a narrative review

Myocardial infarction (MI) can have significant physical and mental consequences. Depression is a prevalent psychiatric condition after MI which can reduce the quality of life and increase the mortality rates of patients. However, the connection between MI and depression has remained under-appreciated. This review examines the potential connection between depression and MI by overviewing the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms including dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system, coagulation system dysfunction, inflammation, environmental factors, as well as, genetic factors. Furthermore, depression can be an adverse event of medications used for MI treatment including beta-blockers, statins, or anti-platelet agents. The need for early detection and management of depression in patients with MI is, therefore, crucial for improving their overall prognosis. Adherence to treatments and regular follow-up visits can ensure the best response to treatment.

Associations between β-blockers and psychiatric and behavioural outcomes: A population-based cohort study of 1.4 million individuals in Sweden

BACKGROUND

β-blockers are widely used for treating cardiac conditions and are suggested for the treatment of anxiety and aggression, although research is conflicting and limited by methodological problems. In addition, β-blockers have been associated with precipitating other psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour, but findings are mixed. We aimed to examine associations between β-blockers and psychiatric and behavioural outcomes in a large population-based cohort in Sweden.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort study using Swedish nationwide high-quality healthcare, mortality, and crime registers. We included 1,400,766 individuals aged 15 years or older who had collected β-blocker prescriptions and followed them for 8 years between 2006 and 2013. We linked register data on dispensed β-blocker prescriptions with main outcomes, hospitalisations for psychiatric disorders (not including self-injurious behaviour or suicide attempts), suicidal behaviour (including deaths from suicide), and charges of violent crime. We applied within-individual Cox proportional hazards regression to compare periods on treatment with periods off treatment within each individual in order to reduce possible confounding by indication, as this model inherently adjusts for all stable confounders (e.g., genetics and health history). We also adjusted for age as a time-varying covariate. In further analyses, we adjusted by stated indications, prevalent users, cardiac severity, psychiatric and crime history, individual β-blockers, β-blocker selectivity and solubility, and use of other medications. In the cohort, 86.8% (n = 1,215,247) were 50 years and over, and 52.2% (n = 731,322) were women. During the study period, 6.9% (n = 96,801) of the β-blocker users were hospitalised for a psychiatric disorder, 0.7% (n = 9,960) presented with suicidal behaviour, and 0.7% (n = 9,405) were charged with a violent crime. There was heterogeneity in the direction of results; within-individual analyses showed that periods of β-blocker treatment were associated with reduced hazards of psychiatric hospitalisations (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91 to 0.93, p < 0.001), charges of violent crime (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.93, p < 0.001), and increased hazards of suicidal behaviour (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.15, p = 0.012). After stratifying by diagnosis, reduced associations with psychiatric hospitalisations during β-blocker treatment were mainly driven by lower hospitalisation rates due to depressive (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89 to 0.96, p < 0.001) and psychotic disorders (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.85 to 0.93, p < 0.001). Reduced associations with violent charges remained in most sensitivity analyses, while associations with psychiatric hospitalisations and suicidal behaviour were inconsistent. Limitations include that the within-individual model does not account for confounders that could change during treatment, unless measured and adjusted for in the model.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-wide study, we found no consistent links between β-blockers and psychiatric outcomes. However, β-blockers were associated with reductions in violence, which remained in sensitivity analyses. The use of β-blockers to manage aggression and violence could be investigated further.

β-Blockers and the Risk of Depression: A Matched Case–Control Study

Introduction

Depression is a commonly cited adverse effect of β-blockers but the evidence for a causal relationship is limited.

Objective

We aimed to explore whether β-blockers are associated with an increased risk of new-onset depression.

Methods

We conducted a case–control study using the UK population-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD. We identified patients aged 18−80 years with an incident depression diagnosis between 2000 and 2016, and matched controls, and estimated the risk (odds ratio [OR]) of depression in association with use of β-blockers. We also conducted analyses of exposure, categorised by number and timing of prescriptions and by indication for β-blocker use.

Results

The study encompassed 118,705 patients with incident depression and the same number of matched controls. The odds of developing depression were increased for current short-term use of any β-blocker (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72−2.12), whereas current long-term use was not associated with the risk of depression compared with never use. The elevated risk of depression among short-term users was mostly confined to propranolol users with a neuropsychiatric disorder (aOR 6.33, 95% CI 5.16–7.76), while propranolol users with a cardiovascular indication were only at marginally increased risk of depression (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.14–1.82).

Conclusions

This study suggests that the association between use of β-blockers and depression may not be causal but rather a result of protopathic bias. Propranolol is often prescribed to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms, suggesting that the onset of depression may be related to the underlying indication rather than to an effect of a β-blocker therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40264-021-01140-5.

Association Between Lipophilic Beta-Blockers and Depression in Diabetic Patients on Chronic Dialysis

Background:

Depression is associated with lower quality of life and increased risk of mortality. The prevalence of depression in chronic dialysis patients, as well as in patients with diabetes, is more than 20%. It is debated whether use of beta-blockers increases the risk of depression. Therefore, we examined in chronic dialysis patients with and without diabetes, the association between beta-blockers and depressive symptoms.

Methods:

Data were collected from the DIVERS-I study, a multicentre prospective cohort among chronic dialysis patients in the Netherlands. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). We defined depressive symptoms as a BDI-II score ⩾16. The cross-sectional association at baseline between depressive symptoms and beta-blocker use in chronic dialysis patients, was studied by multivariable logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders.

Results:

We included 684 chronic dialysis patients, of whom 43% had diabetes mellitus, and 57% used a beta-blocker of which 97% were lipophilic. After multivariable adjustment, the OR (95% CI) for depressive symptoms in patients with compared to without diabetes was 1.41 (1.00-1.98), and in beta-blocker users compared to non-users 1.12 (0.80-1.56), respectively. Dialysis patients with diabetes and beta-blocker use compared to those without diabetes and not using beta-blockers had an OR of 1.73 (1.12-2.69) for depressive symptoms. The association was stronger in dialysis patients with diabetes and lipophilic beta-blocker use with an OR of 1.77 (1.14-2.74).

Conclusions:

We found a possible association between lipophilic beta-blocker use and depressive symptoms in chronic dialysis patients with diabetes.

The association between cardiovascular drugs and depression/anxiety in patients with cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis

This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiovascular drugs and depression/anxiety in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; CRD42020197839) and conducted in accordance with the MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP databases were systematically searched to identify all available studies on this topic. Random-effects multivariate meta-regression was performed to investigate the sources of study heterogeneity. Review Manager version 5.3 and Stata 12.0 were used for data analyses. This meta-analysis included 54 studies with a total number of 212,640 patients. Overall, in patients with CVD, aspirin (odds ratio [OR]:0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.86-0.96, P = 0.02) was associated with a lower risk of depression, while calcium channel blockers (CCB) (OR:1.21, 95%CI:1.05-1.38, P = 0.008), diuretics (OR:1.34, 95%CI:1.14-1.58, P = 0.0005), and nitrate esters (OR:1.32, 95%CI:1.08-1.61, P = 0.006) were associated with a higher risk of depression, additionally, statin (OR:0.79, 95%CI:0.71-0.88, P < 0.0001) was associated with a lower risk of anxiety, but diuretics (OR:1.39, 95%CI:1.26-1.52, P < 0.00001) was associated with a higher risk of anxiety. Subgroup analysis presented that, in patients with hypertension, β-blockers were associated with a higher risk of depression (OR:1.45, 95%CI:1.26-1.67, P < 0.00001); in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), statin (OR:0.77, 95%CI:0.59-0.99, P = 0.04), and aspirin (OR:0.85, 95%CI:0.75-0.97, P = 0.02) were associated with a lower risk of depression, while CCB (OR:1.32, 95%CI:1.15-1.51, P < 0.0001) and diuretics (OR:1.36, 95%CI:1.12-1.64, P = 0.002) were associated with a higher risk of depression, additionally, diuretics was associated with a higher risk of anxiety (OR:1.41, 95%CI:1.28-1.55, P < 0.00001); in patients with heart failure, nitrate esters (OR:1.93, 95%CI:1.19-3.13, P = 0.007), and diuretics (OR:1.58, 95%CI: 1.02-2.43, P = 0.04) were associated with a higher risk of depression. The use of cardiovascular drugs should be considered when evaluating depression or anxiety in patients with CVD to improve the care and treatment of these patients.

Association between common cardiovascular drugs and depression

Objective:

Cardiovascular diseases are associated with an increased risk of depression, but it remains unclear whether treatment with cardiovascular agents decreases or increases this risk. The effects of drugs on individual usage are also often unknown. This review aimed to examine the correlation between depression and common cardiovascular drugs, develop more potent interventions for depression in cardiovascular patients, and further research on the bio-behavioural mechanisms linking cardiovascular drugs to depression.

Data sources:

The data in this review were obtained from articles included in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.

Study selection:

Clinical trials, observational studies, review literature, and guidelines about depression and cardiovascular drugs were selected for the article.

Results:

We systematically investigated whether the seven most used cardiovascular drugs were associated with altered risk of incident depression in this literature review. Statins have been proven to have antidepressant effects. Some studies believe angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) can exert an antidepressant influence by acting on the renin-angiotensin system, but further clinical trials are needed to confirm this. Beta-blockers have previously been associated with depression, but the current study found no significant association between beta blockers and the risk of depression. Aspirin may have antidepressant effects by suppressing the immune response, but its role as an antidepressant remains controversial. calcium channel blockers (CCBs) can regulate nerve signal transduction by adjusting calcium channels, but whether this effect is beneficial or harmful to depression remains unclear. Finally, some cases have reported that nitrates and diuretics are associated with depression, but the current clinical evidence is insufficient.

Conclusions:

Statins have been proven to have antidepressant effect, and the antidepressant effects of ACEIs/ARB and aspirin are still controversial. CCBs are associated with depression, but it is unclear whether it is beneficial or harmful. No association has been found with β-blockers, diuretics, and nitrates.

Mechanism and therapeutic strategies of depression after myocardial infarction

Depression resulted as an important factor associated with the myocardial infarction (MI) prognosis. Patients with MI also have a higher risk for developing depression. Although the issue of depression after MI has become a matter of clinical concern, the molecular mechanism underlying depression after MI remains unclear, whereby several strategies suggested have not got ideal effects, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In this review, we summarized and discussed the occurrence mechanism of depression after MI, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) dysfunction, altered hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, gut microbiota imbalance, exosomal signal transduction, and inflammation. In addition, we offered a succinct overview of treatment, as well as some promising molecules especially from natural products for the treatment of depression after MI.

Chest pain, depression and anxiety in coronary heart disease: Consequence or cause? A prospective clinical study in primary care

OBJECTIVE

To examine if chest pain increases the risk of depression and anxiety, or, on the other hand, depression and anxiety increase the risk of chest pain onset in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study.

SETTING

16 general practices in the Greater London Primary Care Research Network.

PARTICIPANTS

803 participants with a confirmed diagnosis of CHD at baseline on the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) CHD registers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Rose Angina Questionnaire, HADS depression and anxiety subscales and PHQ-9 were assessed at seven time points, each 6 months apart. Multi-Level Analysis (MLA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were applied.

RESULTS

Chest pain predicts both more severe anxiety and depression symptoms at all time points until 30 months after baseline. However, although anxiety predicted chest pain in the short term with a strong association, this association did not last after 18 months. Depression had only a small, negative association with chest pain.

CONCLUSIONS

In persons with CHD, chest pain increases the risk of both anxiety and depression to a great extent. However, anxiety and depression have only limited effects on the risk for chest pain. This evidence suggests that anxiety and depression tend to be consequences rather than causes of cardiac chest pain. Intervention studies that support persons with CHD by providing this information should be devised and evaluated, thus deconstructing potentially catastrophic cognitions and strengthening emotional coping.

The effect of metoprolol and aspirin on cardiovascular risk in bereavement: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Bereavement is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, no reports exist of interventions to reduce risk. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 85 recently bereaved participants, we determined whether β-blocker (metoprolol 25 mg) and aspirin (100 mg) reduce cardiovascular risk markers and anxiety, without adversely affecting bereavement intensity.

METHODS

Participants were spouses (n = 73) or parents (n = 12) of deceased from 5 hospitals in Sydney, Australia, 55 females, 30 males, aged 66.1 ± 9.4 years. After assessment within 2 weeks of bereavement, subjects were randomized to 6 weeks of daily treatment or placebo, and the effect evaluated using ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline values (primary analysis).

RESULTS

Participants on metoprolol and aspirin had lower levels of home systolic pressure (P = .03), 24-hour average heart rate (P < .001) and anxiety (P = .01) platelet response to arachidonic acid (P < .001) and depression symptoms (P = .046) than placebo with no difference in standard deviation of NN intervals index (SDNNi), von Willebrand Factor antigen, platelet-granulocyte aggregates or bereavement intensity. No significant adverse safety impact was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In early bereavement, low dose metoprolol and aspirin for 6 weeks reduces physiological and psychological surrogate measures of cardiovascular risk. Although further research is needed, results suggest a potential preventive benefit of this approach during heightened cardiovascular risk associated with early bereavement.

Frequency of Utilization of Beta Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure and Depression and Their Effect on Mortality

Beta blockers reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure. Early reports linking β-blockers with depression may have limited their use in heart failure patients with co-morbid depression. Although more recent studies have challenged the association between β-blocker therapy and depression, patient and physicians remain concerned. The goal of this study is to evaluate the utilization and outcomes of β-blocker therapy in heart failure patients with depression. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients at a multicenter integrated healthcare system with a diagnosis of heart failure from 2008 to 2014. Among 6,915 patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of <50%, 1,252 (18.1%) had a diagnosis of depression. Patients with depression were more likely to be women and had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Depression was associated with decreased odds of β-blocker treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62 to 0.95; p = 0.016). During a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, 439 (35.1%) patients with depression died compared with 1,549 (27.4%) patients without depression. Depressed patients not treated with β-blocker had higher mortality compared with nondepressed patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.4, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.7, p = 0.005). When treated with β-blockers, their risk of mortality was attenuated (HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.2, p = 0.14). In conclusion, β-blocker therapy remains underutilized in heart failure patients with depression, and its underutilization contributes to the reduced survival rate observed in this cohort.

Determinates of depressive disorder among adult patients with cardiovascular disease at outpatient cardiac clinic Jimma University Teaching Hospital, South West Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Depression and heart disease are an important public-health problem. Depression is one of the most prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorders with more than three times increased risk among patients with cardiovascular disorders.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence and associated factors of depressive disorder among adult patients with cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Institution based cross-sectional study design was used to conduct this study on 293 study participants attending an outpatient cardiac clinic at Jimma University Teaching Hospital. All eligible patients were recruited into the study consecutively. Depression was assessed using patient health questionnaire-9. The patient health questionnaire-9 had a total score of 27, from which 0-4: no/minimal depression, 5-9: mild depression, 10-14: moderately depression, 15-19: moderately severe depression and 20-27 severe depression. The data was feed into Epi-data version 3.1 and lastly exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Bivariate analysis was used to analyze the statistical association of covariates of interest with depressive disorder among patients with cardiovascular disease. Then, logistic regression analysis was used as a final model to control confounders. The strength of association was measured by a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

A total of 293 adult patients diagnosed with the cardiovascular disease were included in the study with 97% (n = 284) of response rate, 47.2% (n = 134) males and 52.8% (n = 150) females, making female to a male ratio around 1.1:1. The prevalence of depression was 52.8% (n = 150/284). Out of the subjects with depression 52.67% (n = 79), 36.0% (n = 54) and 11.33% (n = 17) were mild, moderate and severe depression, respectively. Variables such as employed, unemployed, physical activity, current cigarette user and poor social support were independently associated with depression in the final model.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, depression was found to be highly prevalent psychiatric comorbidity in adult cardiovascular disease patients.

The role of beta-adrenolytic drugs in treating anxiety disorders

Introduction: Beta blockers are mainly used in treating cardiovascular diseases. However, it has been observed that these drugs have also an anxiolytic potential. Over the years, a number of clinical trials have been conducted aimed at determining the effectiveness of beta blockers in treating anxiety disorders.

The aim of the article: The main objective of the article is to present the significance and position of adrenolytic drugs in the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders on the basis of available literature. Moreover, the authors also decided to take into account the data from current research results, considering the problem of side effects of using adrenolytic drugs - especially the controversial reports on their effect on the development of affective disorders.

Method: An analysis was conducted of articles from Medline/PubMed database, selected on the basis of the following key words: anxiety disorders, beta blockers, adrenolytic drugs, as well as on the basis of their dates of publication: 1960-2017. In order to conduct a reliable and complete review of literature, the authors decided to include works from quite an extended period of time. The articles included in the review were published in Polish and English.

Results: The review of articles concerning the treatment of anxiety disorders clearly suggests that propranolol is effective in reducing the frequency of panic attacks and the tendency for avoidance behavior in patients with agoraphobia. Other studies report on potential benefits in terms of early interventional prevention and treating posttraumatic stress disorder with propranolol. However, there is lack of randomized clinical trials concerning the therapeutic effect of other adrenolytic drugs in treating anxiety disorders. Early research works reported that (mainly lipophilic) beta blockers may have a depressogenic effect; however, the latest studies have not confirmed it.

The contemporary research on the therapeutic potential of beta blockers in treating anxiety disorders is insufficient. What seems to be most promising, however, are reports concerning the desirable effects of using adrenolytic drugs in treating posttraumatic stress disorder, which implicates the necessity of conducting further research verifying the validity of their application.

Impact of metoprolol treatment on mental status of chronic heart failure patients with neuropsychiatric disorders

Background

Metoprolol treatment is well established for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, but the central nervous system side effects are often a potential drawback.

Objective

To investigate the impact of metoprolol treatment on change in mental status of CHF patients with clinical psychological disorders (such as depression, anxiety, and burnout syndrome).

Methods

From February 2013 to April 2016, CHF patients with clinical mental disorders received metoprolol (23.75 or 47.5 mg, qd PO, dose escalated with 23.75 mg each time until target heart rate [HR] <70 bpm was achieved) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. Mental status was assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) scale. The primary outcome assessed was change in mental status of patients post-metoprolol treatment and the association with reduction in HR achieved by metoprolol.

Results

A total of 154 patients (median age: 66.39 years; males: n=101) were divided into eight groups on the basis of their mental status. HR decreased significantly from baseline values in all the groups to <70 bpm in the 12th month, P≤0.0001. The HADS depression and CBI scores significantly increased from baseline throughout the study frame (P≤0.0001 for all groups), but a significant decrease in the HADS anxiety score was observed in patients with anxiety (P≤0.0001 for all groups). Regression analysis revealed no significant correlation in any of the groups between the HR reduction and the change in the HADS/CBI scores, except for a change in the CBI scores of CHF patients with depression (P=0.01), which was HR dependent.

Conclusion

Metoprolol treatment worsens the depressive and high burnout symptoms, but affords anxiolytic benefits independent of HR reduction in CHF patients with clinical mental disorders. Hence, physicians need to be vigilant while prescribing metoprolol in CHF patients who present with mental disorders.

Does early beta-blockade in isolated severe traumatic brain injury reduce the risk of post traumatic depression?

INTRODUCTION

Depressive symptoms occur in approximately half of trauma patients, negatively impacting on functional outcome and quality of life following severe head injury. Pontine noradrenaline has been shown to increase upon trauma and associated β-adrenergic receptor activation appears to consolidate memory formation of traumatic events. Blocking adrenergic activity reduces physiological stress responses during recall of traumatic memories and impairs memory, implying a potential therapeutic role of β-blockers. This study examines the effect of pre-admission β-blockade on post-traumatic depression.

METHODS

All adult trauma patients (≥18 years) with severe, isolated traumatic brain injury (intracranial Abbreviated Injury Scale score (AIS) ≥3 and extracranial AIS <3) were recruited from the trauma registry of an urban university hospital between 2007 and 2011. Exclusion criteria were in-hospital deaths and prescription of antidepressants up to one year prior to admission. Pre- and post-admission β-blocker and antidepressant therapy data was requested from the national drugs registry. Post-traumatic depression was defined as the prescription of antidepressants within one year of trauma. Patients with and without pre-admission β-blockers were matched 1:1 by age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score and head AIS. Analysis was carried out using McNemar's and Student's t-test for categorical and continuous data, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 545 patients met the study criteria. Of these, 15% (n=80) were prescribed β-blockers. After propensity matching, 80 matched pairs were analyzed. 33% (n=26) of non β-blocked patients developed post-traumatic depression, compared to only 18% (n=14) in the β-blocked group (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in ICU (mean days: 5.8 (SD 10.5) vs. 5.6 (SD 7.2), p=0.85) or hospital length of stay (mean days: 21 (SD 21) vs. 21 (SD 20), p=0.94) between cohorts.

CONCLUSION

β-blockade appears to act prophylactically and significantly reduces the risk of post-traumatic depression in patients suffering from isolated severe traumatic brain injuries. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to validate this finding.

Initiation of β-blocker therapy and depression after acute myocardial infarction

INTRODUCTION

Although β-blockers reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), early reports linking β-blocker use with subsequent depression have potentially limited their use in vulnerable patients. We sought to provide empirical evidence to support or refute this concern by examining the association between β-blocker initiation and change in depressive symptoms in AMI patients.

METHODS

Using data from 2 US multicenter, prospective registries of AMI patients, we examined 1-, 6-, and 12-month changes in depressive symptoms after the index hospitalization among patients who were β-blocker-naïve on admission. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the validated 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), which rates depressive symptoms from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating more depressive symptoms. A propensity-matched repeated-measures linear regression model was used to compare change in depressive symptoms among patients who were and were not initiated on a β-blocker after AMI.

RESULTS

Of 3,470 AMI patients who were β-blocker-naïve on admission, 3,190 (91.9%) were initiated on a β-blocker and 280 (8.1%) were not. Baseline PHQ-8 scores were higher in patients not initiated on a β-blocker (mean 5.78 ± 5.45 vs 4.88 ± 5.11, P = .005). PHQ-8 scores were progressively lower at 1, 6, and 12 months in both the β-blocker (mean decrease at 12 months 1.16, P < .0001) and no-β-blocker groups (mean decrease 1.71, P < .0001). After propensity matching 201 untreated patients with 567 treated patients, initiation of β-blocker therapy was not associated with a difference in mean change in PHQ-8 scores at 1, 6, or 12 months after AMI (absolute mean difference with β-blocker initiation at 12 months of 0.08, 95% CI -0.81 to 0.96, P = .86).

CONCLUSIONS

Initiation of β-blocker therapy after AMI was not associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. Restricting β-blocker use because of concerns about depression appears unwarranted and may lead to undertreatment of AMI patients.

Managing comorbidities in patients with chronic heart failure: first, do no harm

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 5.1 million adults in the USA, with expectations of a rise to nearly 8 million adults by 2030. Patients with HF are at increased risk for morbidity/mortality, and comorbidities can further complicate care for these patients. Diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, arrhythmias, and depression are diagnoses that often coexist with HF. Medications commonly used to treat these comorbidities may induce or worsen HF symptoms, so determining appropriate drug therapy is important. Healthcare providers must understand the relationship between these medications and HF in order to improve prescribing practices to increase patient safety and reduce morbidity and mortality. This manuscript discusses the association between certain medications used to treat the aforementioned diagnoses and their relationship to HF. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on which pharmacologic options require special consideration, increased monitoring, or complete avoidance in HF patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, arrhythmias, and/or depression.

Mind and heart: heart rate variability in major depressive disorder and coronary heart disease - a review and recommendations

OBJECTIVE

There is a reciprocal association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). These conditions are linked by a causal network of mechanisms. This causal network should be quantitatively studied and it is hypothesised that the investigation of vagal function represents a promising starting point. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to investigate cardiac vagal control in the context of MDD and CHD. This review aims to examine the relationship of HRV to both MDD and CHD in the context of vagal function and to make recommendations for clinical practice and research.

METHODS

The search terms 'heart rate variability', 'depression' and 'heart disease' were entered into an electronic multiple database search engine. Abstracts were screened for their relevance and articles were individually selected and collated.

RESULTS

Decreased HRV is found in both MDD and CHD. Both diseases are theorized to disrupt autonomic control feedback loops on the heart and are linked to vagal function. Existing theories link vagal function to both mood and emotion as well as cardiac function. However, several factors can potentially confound HRV measures and would thus impact on a complete understanding of vagal mechanisms in the link between MDD and CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

The quantitative investigation of vagal function using HRV represents a reasonable starting point in the study of the relationship between MDD and CHD. Many psychotropic and cardiac medications have effects on HRV, which may have clinical importance. Future studies of HRV in MDD and CHD should consider antidepressant medication, as well as anxiety, as potential confounders.

Anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction: findings from a centre in India

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted to assess the occurrence of anxiety and depression in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI) and also to assess the relationship of these symptoms with other relevant factors and clinical outcome.

METHODS

A total of 103 patients with recent MI attending the cardiology outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care centre in India were included. The patients were evaluated using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and pertinent demographic and clinical parameters were recorded. The patients were followed up at 12 weeks telephonically to ascertain outcome.

RESULTS

Significant anxiety and depressive symptoms were present in 48.5% and 25.2% of the sample. Anxiety or depressive disorder diagnosis was present in 25.2% of the sample. Aspirin use predicted lower anxiety and depressive symptom scores. A multivariate linear regression showed that female sex, history of angina and use of aspirin independently predicted scores on HAM-A. Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder, use of aspirin and increased body mass index also independently predicted scores on HAM-D.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to screen for anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with MI, so that appropriate intervention can be incorporated in the management plan.

The incentive to publish negative studies: how beta-blockers and depression got stuck in the publication cycle

OBJECTIVES

The hypothesis that use of beta-blockers causes depression has been proposed more than 40 years ago. However, despite the publication of numerous studies, the issue remains unresolved. The aim of this article is to describe a publication pattern in these studies, which may explain why the controversy persists.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A literature search was performed in Embase, Medline, and references of relevant articles. Studies that tested whether patients using beta-blockers for cardiovascular conditions had an increased risk of depression compared with nonusers were included.

RESULTS

The search yielded 22 observational studies. A specific publication pattern recurred several times in these studies. Each study that presented statistically significant findings was followed by several studies that refuted those findings. This publication cycle arose in cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies, and meta-analyses, as well as for beta-blockers in general, propranolol, and nonselective beta-blockers. Some underpowered nonsignificant findings were published in high-impact journals.

CONCLUSION

The publication cycle clearly illustrates that significant findings are published ahead of nonsignificant findings, and that significant findings seem to provide an incentive to publish nonsignificant studies. Therefore, studies that may have correctly shown that beta-blockers increase the risk of depression will have been refuted too. Publication bias because of false nonsignificant studies may obstruct scientific progress.

Beta blocker therapy is associated with reduced depressive symptoms 12 months post percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Beta blocker therapy may induce depressive symptoms, although current evidence is conflicting. We examined the association between beta blocker therapy and depressive symptoms in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients and the extent to which there is a dose-response relationship between beta blocker dose and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Patients treated with PCI (N=685) completed the depression scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 1 and 12 months post PCI. Information about type and dose of beta blocker use was extracted from medical records.

RESULTS

Of all patients, 68% (466/685) were on beta blocker therapy at baseline. In adjusted analysis, beta blocker use at 1 month post PCI (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.53-1.26) was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. At 12 months post PCI, there was a significant relationship between beta blocker use and depressive symptoms (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31-0.84), with beta blocker therapy associated with a 49% risk reduction in depressive symptoms. There was a dose-response relationship between beta blocker dose and depressive symptoms 12 months post PCI, with the risk reduction in depressive symptoms in relation to a low dose being 36% (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.37-1.10) and 58% (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.76) in relation to a high dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with beta blocker therapy were less likely to experience depressive symptoms 12 months post PCI, with there being a dose-response relationship with a higher dose providing a more pronounced protective effect.

Are vascular risk factors associated with post-stroke depressive symptoms?

OBJECTIVE

Vascular risk factors (VRFs) have been associated with stroke and cognitive impairment, however, the role of VRFs in predicting post-stroke depression (PSD) has not been assessed. The objective of the current study was to determine whether VRFs are associated with the risk of PSD in an acute stroke population.

METHODS

In this observational study, patients meeting World Health Organization MONICA Project and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria for stroke were eligible. Patients were assessed for depression, cognition, and stroke severity, and VRF and demographic information were obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were recruited within 4 months post-stroke. Using a score of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale to determine depressive symptoms, 38 patients (age 72.1 ± 15.6, 44.7% male) screened positive for depressive symptoms and 64 (age 70.1 ± 13.6, 51.6% male) screened negative. Analysis of VRFs showed that only hypertension (P = .044) independently predicted the presence of depressive symptoms (χ(2) = 4.742, P = .029, Nagelkerke R (2) = .062).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension was associated with post-stroke depressive symptoms, while there was no relationship between PSD and other VRFs. Hypertension may have a greater impact than other VRFs on mood following stroke and may have a role in prevention and treatment of PSD.

[Depression. An underestimated risk for the development and progression of coronary heart disease]

The aim of this article is to provide an overview on depression as a risk factor for the onset and follow-up of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In brief, the current state of psychobiological mechanisms bridging the gap between affective states and somatic consequences are presented. Four meta-analyses dealing with depression as a CVD risk factor in apparently healthy populations with >100,000 participants included, extracted an adjusted effect estimator of 1.60-1.90. Depressed subjects present with an unhealthier lifestyle (nutrition, smoking, physical activity). Three major psychobiological pathways directly acting on the circulatory system are under discussion: (1) hyperregulation of the autonomic nervous system (e.g., increased mean heart rate, increased heart rate responses, impaired heart rate variability), (2) overshooting stress responses of the endocrine system with impaired feedback mechanisms (e.g., for cortisol release), and (3) the immune system with dysregulated release of acute phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines, all involved in a bidirectional crosstalk with the patient's affective state and leading to platelet activation and flow mediated endothelial (dys-)function. Nonadherence and adverse side effects of medications also contribute to the lethal properties of depression in CVD.

A review on the putative association between beta-blockers and depression

Several kinds of systematic studies have been conducted verifying the putative association between β-blockers and depressive symptoms. However, many of these studies had important limitations in their design. In most of the studies, no effect of β-blockers on depressive symptoms was seen. Because individual susceptibility cannot be ruled out, clinicians must stay vigilant, especially with patients who have a positive personal or family history and who have been prescribed lipophilic β-blockers. However, fear for depression should not be the reason for reluctance in prescribing β-blockers to cardiovascular patients.

Temporomandibular joint dislocation due to acute propranolol intoxication

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation has not previously been reported as a complication of beta-blocker toxicity. We are reporting two cases of TMJ dislocation resulted from acute severe intoxication with pure propranolol (PPL) for the first time. Bilateral TMJ dislocation happened in two patients who were admitted to intensive care unit with diagnosis of severe acute PPL toxicity. Clinical diagnosis of TMJ dislocation was obtained by physical examination. Successful reduction was performed for both patients without subsequent recurrence in two weeks following hospital discharge. Both of our subjects had no previous history of lower jaw dislocation. There was not any risk factor for dislocation such as convulsion during admission period, recent face trauma, or oral manipulation by the medical team. This study showed that TMJ dislocation may occur after severe acute PPL toxicity probably due to spastic contraction of the lateral pterygoid muscle. This is against previously mentioned hypothesis that stated masseteric muscles contraction as the main cause of a bilateral dislocated TMJ.

Brief depression screening with the PHQ-2 associated with prognosis following percutaneous coronary intervention with paclitaxel-eluting stenting

BACKGROUND

Depression is associated with adverse prognosis in cardiac patients, warranting the availability of brief and valid instruments to identify depressed patients in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

We examined whether the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) was associated with adverse events in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients treated with paclitaxel-eluting stenting (using the continuous score and various cutoffs), overall and by gender.

DESIGN

Prospective follow-up study.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive PCI patients (n = 796) seen at a university medical centre.

MEASUREMENTS

PHQ-2 at baseline. The study endpoint was an adverse event, defined as a combination of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) at follow-up (mean of 1.4 years).

RESULTS

At follow-up, 47 patients had experienced an adverse event. Using the continuous score of the PHQ-2 and the recommended cutoff > or =3, depressive symptoms were not associated with adverse events (ps > 0.05). Using a cutoff > or =2, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with adverse events (HR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.06-3.35) and remained significant in adjusted analysis (HR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.05-3.44). Depressive symptoms were associated with an increased risk of adverse events in men (HR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.36-5.32) but not in women (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.24-2.43); these results remained in adjusted analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression screening with a two-item scale and a cutoff score of > or =2 was independently associated with adverse events at follow-up. The PHQ-2 is a brief and valid measure that can easily be used post PCI to identify patients at risk for adverse health outcomes.

Depressive symptoms in peripheral arterial disease: a follow-up study on prevalence, stability, and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are associated with poor prognosis in coronary artery disease, but there is a paucity of research on these symptoms in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We examined the clinical correlates and 18-month course of depressive symptoms in PAD patients.

METHODS

166 patients with symptomatic lower-extremity PAD (39% women; M age=64.9 +/- 10 years) completed the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. A score > or =4 indicates clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were re-assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months follow-up. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and treadmill walking distance were used to assess PAD severity.

RESULTS

At baseline, depressive symptoms (CES-D > or =4) were present in 16% of the patients. Depressed patients performed worse regarding pain free (p=0.003) and maximum (p=0.005) walking distance. After adjusting for age, sex, education, ABI, psychotropic medication use, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidity, depressive symptoms remained stable in initially depressed patients. Using mixed modelling, three subgroups were identified in the total sample. The majority of PAD patients did not have depressive symptoms (58%), but there were two groups who persistently experienced either subclinical (27%) or clinically manifest (15%) depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Only baseline data of ABI and treadmill walking performance were available.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptomatology was present in a substantial number of PAD patients, tended to be stable, and was associated with reduced walking distance. These apparently evident results are overlooked thus far in this patient group and deserve further attention in research and clinical care.

The association between use of cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants: a nationwide register-based study

PURPOSE

To investigate whether cardiovascular drug classes and specific beta-blockers are associated with antidepressant drug use in a large study population of older people.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register from October-December 2005 for people aged 75 years and older (n = 732,230). Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between the cardiovascular drugs and antidepressants, after adjustment for age, sex, and number of other dispensed drugs.

RESULTS

All the cardiovascular drug classes were negatively or not associated with use of any antidepressant, non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and SSRIs, after adjustment for age, sex, and number of other dispensed drugs. However, propranolol was associated with an increased use of any antidepressant, non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and SSRIs, after adjustment for age, sex, and number of other dispensed drugs. Atenolol was positively associated with non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors, although to a lesser extent than propranolol.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the cardiovascular drug classes were associated with increased antidepressant drug use, after adjustment for age, sex, and use of other drugs. However, when focusing specifically on beta-blockers, our results indicate that propranolol may be the beta-blocker most closely associated with use of antidepressants in the elderly.

The role of depression in the etiology of acute coronary syndrome

Recent research has confirmed that depression is a risk factor for the development and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Depressive symptoms are associated with the progression of underlying coronary atherosclerosis and clinical events such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Depression is poorly recognized and undertreated in patients following ACS, but progress is being made in developing abbreviated measurement tools that can be used in clinical cardiologic practice. Depressive symptoms emerging at various stages of CHD presentation may have different effects on CHD prognosis. The mechanisms mediating the relationship between depression and CHD include vascular inflammation, autonomic and endothelial dysfunction, and behavior patterns such as poor adherence to medication and advice. The optimal methods of managing depression following ACS have not yet been established.