PSYCHOSOCIAL PREDICTORS OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF SOUTH ASIANS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Introduction: South-Asians are the largest ethnic minority group in the UK. Depression and coronary heart disease (CHD) are common in this group. The importance of depression in South Asians has not attracted significant research interest, to date; yet there is evidence that it is associated with the development of CHD, and when it develops after CHD leads to poor prognosis. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of depression on quality of life of the South Asians under secondary care, by reviewing previous literature and performing a prospective research. The hypothesis was that, after controlling for demographic, psychological and medical variables depression would be associated with impaired HRQoL in South Asians 6 months after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Demographic, psychological and medical data were collected. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI) in the first phase. In the 2nd phase the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) was performed to validate the HADS. The PCS (SF-36) and HADS were completed at follow up. Results: Of the 250 enrolled patients 202 completed follow up. A HADS score of greater than or equal to 17 was identified as the best cut off point. The prevalence of depression was 30%. Baseline depression, lack of education and retirement were predictors of poor QoL (p

Date of Award	31 Dec 2011
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Nusrat Husain (Supervisor) & Christopher Dickens (Supervisor)