Dyadic effects of anxiety and depression on quality of life among couples facing cardiovascular disease

Anxiety and depression are frequently comorbid in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a patient's poor mental health may implicate the quality of life (QoL) of a partner. The bidirectional effects of comorbid anxiety and depression on patient and partner outcomes are inadequately understood. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of the combined role of depression and anxiety on patients' and partners' QoL. In this cross-sectional study, patients with CVD and their partners completed questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, and QoL. Dyadic data was analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model and polynomial interaction for examining the synergistic and dysergistic effects of anxiety and depression (i.e., in combination). 181 dyads comprised the study sample (66.3% coronary artery disease; 25.9% female patients). Anxiety and depression, in synergy was associated with poorer QoL in patients and partners (actor effects). Patients that are more anxious than depressed have greater physical QoL whereas partners that are more depressed than anxious have greater emotional QoL (dysergistic actor effects). Patients' more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, in synergy, was associated with partners' poorer QoL (partner effect). Anxiety and depression are comorbid and associated with poor QoL in patients and their partners. The results may have implications for secondary prevention programming but future longitudinal studies are warranted to substantiate the cross-sectional findings. •Cardiac patient and partner health effects may be bidirectional.•An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model examines patient and partner dyadic effects.•Anxiety and depression linked to poor quality of life in patients and partners.•Patient anxiety and depression linked to poor quality of life in partners.