Social support deficit and depression treatment outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Findings from the EsDEPACS study

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether social support deficit has moderating effects on depressive and cardiac outcomes in an antidepressant trial for depressed patients with acute coronary syndrome as a secondary analysis using Escitalopram for DEPression in acute coronary syndrome study (ClinicalTrial.gov registry number: NCT00419471).

Methods: In total, 217 acute coronary syndrome patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition depressive disorders were randomized into two groups that received escitalopram (N = 108) or placebo (N = 109) for 24 weeks. Social support deficit was evaluated by validated scales at study entry. Depressive outcomes were measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Cardiac outcomes included echocardiography (left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion scores), electrocardiography (heart rate, PR interval, QRS duration, and QTc duration), and laboratory test results (troponin I and creatine kinase-MB).

Results: A higher social support deficit at baseline was significantly associated with less improvement in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory scores, and serum troponin I levels after adjustment for corresponding baseline scores, covariates associated with social support deficit at baseline, and treatment status. The strength of these associations was more prominent in the placebo group compared to the escitalopram group.

Conclusions: Evaluation of social support deficit in depressed acute coronary syndrome is important, and particularly during the acute phase, depressed acute coronary syndrome patients with social support deficit should be treated more carefully to improve treatment outcomes, given that social support deficit was predictive of poorer depressive and cardiac outcomes during the 24-week treatment period. Acute coronary syndrome patients with social support deficit should be treated more carefully to improve treatment outcomes.