Is Depression After A Heart Attack More Frequent In Men Or Women?

— -- Question: Is depression after a heart attack more frequent in men or women?

Answer: The teaching is that depression, in general, is more frequent in women.

Heart attacks, up until the age of 70, are more frequent in men, so most of the patients who I have who are depressed after a heart attack are usually men.

The actual incidence per heart attack is a little difficult to sort out. My guess is it's probably pretty equal.

Women in general have become, thankfully, more comfortable in recognizing depression, talking about it, and seeking assistance.

Whereas men, I think, will write it off to their medical issues and not really seek help as easily. And so as physicians we've become more aware of probing our male patients a little more aggressively in that regard.

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