Journal of general internal medicine
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Persistent depression affects adherence to secondary prevention behaviors after acute coronary syndromes.
The persistence of depressive symptoms after hospitalization is a strong risk factor for mortality after acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Poor adherence to secondary prevention behaviors may be a mediator of the relationship between depression and increased mortality. ⋯ Persistently depressed patients were less likely to adhere to behaviors that reduce the risk of recurrent ACS. Differences in adherence to these behaviors may explain in part why depression predicts mortality after ACS.