Psycho-social effects of angina

The consequences of angina were assessed by a questionnaire completed by 1 528 out-hospital doctors (79% of general practitioners, 21% of cardiologists) on 3 654 patients. This population comprised 2 304 men (64%) and 1 282 women (36%) with a mean age of 69.5 years (men : 67.1, women : 73.8 years). Previous myocardial infarction was present in 36.6% of cases and the average number of angina attacks was 3.1 per month. Angina seemed to affect the social behaviour of 25 to 30% of patients, the affective behaviour of 40% of patients and everyday life style in 60% of cases. Sixty per cent of patients had difficulties in their work and 60% also had psychological consequences of the angina. The social consequences of angina were different according to the patient's gender. Women were more affected in family life and men in their affective behaviour. The psychological consequences were also different : women were more likely to be anxious or depressed whereas men were usually more irritable. The incidence of anxio-depressive reactions with age was not studied (the female population was older), The higher incidence of anxio-depressive symptoms in women may be partially explained by their age at the time of diagnosis and the difference in prognosis between men and women when coronary artery disease is established.