Association between quality of life and mental stress-induced myocardial ischaemia in high-risk patients after coronary revascularization

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the association between mental stress-induced myocardial ischaemia (MSIMI) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary revascularization. METHODS: This cohort study involved patients with high-risk MSIMI who received coronary revascularization between Dec 2018 and Dec 2019. Patients who screened positive for depression/anxiety were enrolled in this study. Mental stress was induced by the Stroop Colour and Word Test 1 month after coronary revascularization. All participants underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans at rest and under mental stress. MSIMI was defined as the presence of four abnormal SPECT phenomena. QoL was assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) prior to treatment and 1 month after coronary revascularization. RESULTS: Of the 1845 consecutive patients who received coronary revascularization, 590 (31.9%) had depression/anxiety, and 205 agreed to accept the mental stress test. During the average observation period of 33 days, 105 (51.2%) patients exhibited MSIMI. All SAQ subscales showed significant improvement, except for QoL, in the MSIMI group. The QoL score was lower (− 0.2 ± 32.7 vs. 13.1 ± 29.9, P = 0.005), and the proportion of deterioration in QoL was higher (50.5% vs. 31.9%, P = 0.010) in the MSIMI group than in the non-MSIMI group. Those with a deterioration in QoL had approximately twice the rate of MSIMI than those with an improvement in QoL (unadjusted OR: 2.019, 95% CI 1.122–3.634, P = 0.026; adjusted OR: 1.968, 95% CI 1.083–3.578, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Among patients with CAD who received coronary revascularization and had depression/anxiety, deterioration in QoL increased the likelihood of MSIMI. Hence, our results indicate that deterioration in QoL is a predictor of MSIMI. Trail Registration ChiCTR2200055792, retrospectively registered, 2022.1.20, www.medresman.org.cn