MI associated with worse coping strategies

Patients with previous MI were more likely to use emotion-focused coping strategies, such as eating more or drinking alcohol, compared with those without MI, who used problem-focused coping strategies, researchers reported.

“It is well-known that stress impacts quality of life and is a risk factor to our health,” Nastaran Ahmadi, PhD, of the Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Iran, said in a press release. “We aimed to determine what kinds of coping strategies patients were using to see if there were differences between our patients who have had acute myocardial infarction and those who have not.”

Ahmadi and colleagues analyzed data from patients who had MI (n = 220) and those who did not (n = 220), including demographic information, stress inventory, a perceived stress questionnaire and a coping inventory. They presented their findings at the Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology Middle East Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Emotion-focused coping strategies include suppressing negative thoughts/emotions, praying, eating more, drinking alcohol and avoiding the situation. Problem-solving coping strategies include taking control, seeking information and weighing pros and cons.

Stress levels were similar regardless of strategy used. Patients who had previous MI were more likely to use emotion-focused strategies to deal with their stress (90.1%) compared with those without MI, who were more likely to use problem-focused strategy (65.4%).

In patients with MI who used emotion-focused strategies, 82.2% perceived negative stress and 60.2% perceived a severe high level of stress compared with 72.1% and 53.6%, respectively, of control participants who used problem-solving strategies.

“It is important that clinicians — including cardiologists, psychiatrists and psychologists — talk to their patients about stress and coping methods,” Ahmadi said in the release. “If we can change our view about the perception of stress, then we can change our cognition process about stressful situations and make important lifestyle changes.” by Cassie Homer

Reference:

Ahmadi N, et al. Abstract 1087. Presented at: Eighth Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in Collaboration with ACC Middle East Conference; Oct. 19-21, 2017; Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Disclosures: Cardiology Today could not confirm disclosures at the time of publication.