Original study
A questionnaire to assess premonitory symptoms of myocardial infarction

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-5273(87)90029-5Get rights and content

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that feelings of vital exhaustion precede the onset of myocardial infarction, and to develop a short questionnaire to assess these feelings, a prospective study was done among 3877 males, aged 39–65 years. During a 4.2-year follow-up period, 59 fatal or non-fatal infarctions occurred. The mean score of future coronary causes as determined by a questionnaire assessing feelings of vital exhaustion was significantly higher than the mean score of a control group matched for age, blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking. Given the validity of the model, it was possible to reduce markedly the size of the questionnaire.

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Cited by (328)

  • Depression, anxiety, and vital exhaustion are associated with pro-coagulant markers in depressed patients with coronary artery disease – A cross sectional and prospective secondary analysis of the SPIRR-CAD trial

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    Citation Excerpt :

    The Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ) self-report instrument was used to assess vital exhaustion in CAD [30,41], which focused on physical symptoms of depression but not feelings of guilt or inferiority. VE was measured using a 21-item version of the MQ [29], which yielded excellent internal consistency (Cronbach ≥0.93). VE was analysed as a continuous Variable (score 1–42).

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This study was supported by grant no. 83.069 of the Dutch Heart Foundation.

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