The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking comments from healthcare professionals and the general public on the topic of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) depression.
The AHRQ is accepting comments until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on June 15 on the following two questions:
- What is the accuracy of depression screening instruments or screening strategies compared to a validated criterion standard for post-ACS patients?
- What are the comparative safety and effectiveness of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic depression treatments in post-ACS patients?
The agency defines ACS as clinical symptoms compatible with acute myocardial ischemia and includes unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation MI and ST-segment elevation MI.
The AHRQ cited data that found as many as 65 percent of patients experience symptoms of depression after an MI. However, it said there is no evidence on how to screen patients for depression following an ACS.
To answer the above questions, the AHRQ plans on evaluating the following interventions: self-administered screening tools for depression; medical therapy; psychotherapy; coordinated care; and other treatments such as aerobic exercise, cardiac rehabilitation, education, stress management and psychosocial support.
Executive Editor
Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.