Exploring the Interplay between Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life Following Pulmonary Embolism

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death. It has been shown to be accompanied by significant decreases in quality of life. The prevalence and longitudinal trends of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in PE patients remains largely understudied.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study examining 192 PE patients attending a dedicated Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Clinic. Participants completed standardized assessments using the Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (PEmb-QoL) Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) following their PE diagnosis and ensuing treatment.

Results

Our findings revealed noteworthy gender disparities in the psychological impact of PE on survivors. Of the 192 participants, 51% were women and 49% were men. Among women, 42% reported anxiety and 44% reported depression. Through all dimensions evaluated by the PEmb-QoL, women reported a lower quality of life post-PE. Patients with higher levels of anxiety and depression experienced worse quality of life. Younger patients reported worse quality of life in the categories of increased frequency of complaints and emotional complaints. They additionally expressed greater feelings of worry in ceasing anticoagulant medications in comparison to older counterparts.

Conclusion

This study represents one of the largest dedicated prospective studies to date to examine the psychological impact of PE on patients' psyche and quality of life, highlighting the significant psychological toll of PE on patients' recovery. We noted women experienced higher rates of anxiety and depression and lower overall quality of life scores when compared to men. Furthermore, regardless of gender, we observed a decrease in quality of life with the prevalence of anxiety and depression. The results indicated that age influenced a patient's tendency to report worse quality of life. These findings underscore the importance of psychosocial support strategies in addressing the emotional needs of patients in the aftermath of a PE diagnosis.

Learning Objective

Disparities in anxiety and depression prevalence following PE diagnosis and treatment exist. This study highlights the importance of implementing tailored psychosocial support strategies to address the unique emotional needs of PE patients, particularly among women and younger patients.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.