Troponin I: should it be considered as a novel tool to predict post MI depression?

Background: Major depressive disorder is very usual in patients experiencing a history of myocardial infarction (MI). Raising level of Troponin I could be a tool to predict the severity of post myocardial infarction depressive disorder. Aims: The purpose of this work was to test the relationships between levels of Troponin I and severity of post MI depression. Methods: The study was conducted on patients of acute MI (n=100) attending cardiology OPD of Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam in 6- 8 weeks after the index event. Screening was done by The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders and diagnoses of Major Depressive Disorder were established according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders fourth edition Test Revision criteria. Severity of the depression was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory. Laboratory reports of serum levels of Troponin I were noted from the medical records of the patients. Statistical tests like the student to test and Pearson correlation were used for analysis. Results: Severity indicators of MI like raising Troponin I has significant association (t test = 3.66, p = 0.0006) and positive correlation (r = 0.797, p= 0.003) with severity of post MI depression. Conclusion: Rising Troponin I levels are associated with increased risk of depression following the myocardial infarction. So it can be utilized to foresee future chances of depression after an attack of myocardial infarction.