Association between Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Major Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Patients with Chest Pain

Abstract

Psychological variables, such as depression and anxiety, are known as independent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), suggesting the interaction of psychological and physiological factors in the development of CAD. In the present study, we analyzed the possible association between depressive and anxiety symptoms and major atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with chest pain warranting coronary angiography. The patients without CAD (n = 159) and those with CAD (n = 155) were evaluated for the severity of depression and anxiety by the symptom scales; high scores indicate severe symptoms. Age, male/female ratio, prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), and depression level were significantly higher in the CAD group. Among a total of 314 patients with chest pain, the mean depression score was higher in patients with DM (16.01 ± 8.12 vs 13.01 ± 9.6, p = 0.01) and those with hypercholesterolemia (15.43 ± 9.61 vs 12.53 ± 9.61, p = 0.02). The mean anxiety score was also higher in patients with DM (20.81 ± 12.85 vs 16.51 ± 12.09, p = 0.008), hypercholesterolemia (20.67 ± 13.11 vs 15.29 ± 11.36, p = 0.002), or hypertension (20.74 ± 12.94 vs 14.1 ± 10.8, p = 0.001). Thus, DM and hypercholesterolemia are associated with depression and anxiety, while hypertension is only related to anxiety. In contrast, smoking and family history of atherosclerosis are not related to depression and anxiety scores. These results suggest depression and anxiety symptoms may contribute to the development and progression of CAD, especially in patients with DM or hypercholesterolemia.depression; anxiety; psychological tests; atherosclerosis risk factors; coronary artery disease

Anxiolytic medication use is not associated with anxiety level and does not reduce complications after acute myocardial infarction

“…), hyperlipidaemia (Vural et al . ), immune suppression (Pitsavos et al . ), reduced heart rate variability (Andrei et al .…”

“…Anxiety may promote in-hospital complications through physiological and behavioural mechanisms. Physiologically, anxiety is associated with hypercoagulation (von Kanel et al 2006), hyperlipidaemia (Vural et al 2007), immune suppression (Pitsavos et al 2006), reduced heart rate variability (Andrei et al 2009) and increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity (Aschbacher et al 2008). Behaviourally, anxiety may negatively affect adherence to required lifestyle changes related to diet, physical activity and smoking cessation (Bonnet et al 2005, Kuhl et al 2009).…”

Preoperative Clinical Status but not Waiting Time Predicts In-Hospital Outcomes of Surgery in Patients with Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis

“…Then, we investigated differences between the groups with and without MACE in terms of demographic, clinical and angiographic characteristics as well as the factors Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Increased incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, stress and changes in life style, diet and even anxiety and depression are mentioned to be among factors that are responsible from high prevalence of coronary artery disease (Takemura et al 2000;Vural et al 2007).…”

Relationship Between Level Of Anxiety And Serum Lipid Profile In Patients Followed By Anxiety Disorder

“…Akut koroner sendromlu hastalarda anksiyete gelişme riski çok sık olduğu için bu hasta grubu yakından izlenip serum lipidleri yakından takip edilmelidir (19,20). Bunun yanında anksiyete ve depresyon semptomlarının şiddeti hiperkolesterolemili veya diyabetli hastalarda koroner arter hastalığı gelişimine neden olmaktadır (21). Yaygın anksiyete bozukluğu tanısıyla izlenen hastalarda koroner arter hastalığı gelişim riski arttığı için bu kişi-lerde serum lipid düzeyi izlemi yapılmalıdır (22).…”