Objective: To compare measures of depression and anxiety, physical health status, quality of life, and social support in Greek-born and Anglo-Australian outpatients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: A cross-sectional study of 61 Greek-born immigrants and 62 Anglo-Australian outpatients with CHD recruited between 2009 and 2011 was undertaken. We administered the Beck Depression Inventory-2 and the Cardiac Depression Scale, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, the SF-12, the World Health Organisation Quality of Life (brief version), and the Perceived Social Support Scale and Social Enriched Social Support Instrument. Results: Compared to Anglo-Australians, the Greek-born immigrants had higher depression and anxiety scores, lower reported physical health status, lower perceived social support and lower quality of life on the physical, psychological and environmental health subdomains (p values < .05). Birthplace differences remained for level of depression and anxiety when adjustments were made for other CHD risk factors. Conclusion: Greek-born immigrants were found to have more psychosocial risk factors for CHD compared to the Anglo-Australians. We suggest that differences in depression and anxiety may help explain differences in CHD risk and morbidity between Greek-born immigrants and other ethnic groups living in Australia. © 2012 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ).

coronary heart disease Greek-born immigrants Anxiety Depression

anxiety depression immigrant Australia psychological aspect human middle aged birthplace ethnic group mental stress priority journal health status controlled study comparative study Aged social support outpatient Great Britain Cross-Sectional Studies quality of life cross-sectional study Humans ethnic difference male Chi-Square Distribution Emigrants and Immigrants Beck Depression Inventory female environmental factor risk factor psychological rating scale State Trait Anxiety Inventory Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Greece high risk population scoring system Article Questionnaires major clinical study ischemic heart disease world health organization World Health Organization Quality of Life Social Enriched Social Support Instrument Greek born immigrant Analysis of Variance Anglo Australian Cardiac Depression Scale perceived social support scale Short Form 12 Coronary Disease