Not all patients become depressed after having a heart attack. Depression should not be considered a normal reaction after a heart attack. Clinicians and patients should be aware that depression is an important risk factor for adverse outcomes after a heart attack.

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We found that the prevalence of depression was 40 percent in women age 60 years or younger, 21 percent in women older than 60, 22 percent in men 60 or younger and 15 percent in men older than 60.

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