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Influence of anxiety on the course of heart disease after acute myocardial infarction - risk factor or protective
D Benninghoven1, A Kaduk, U Wiegand
1Section for Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Clinic II, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. benningh@medinf.mu-luebeck.de
Insights
Anxiety following myocardial infarction is linked to more frequent and earlier cardiac events. Higher anxiety levels predicted worse outcomes, impacting patient smoking habits and medical compliance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
Background:
- The impact of anxiety on cardiac events post-myocardial infarction remains unclear.
- Anxiety is inconsistently viewed as both a risk and protective factor for cardiac events.
- Potential protective effects of anxiety may stem from improved patient compliance and medical follow-up.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive value of various parameters for cardiac events after myocardial infarction.
- To assess the relationship between anxiety levels and the occurrence and timing of cardiac events.
- To examine the influence of anxiety on patient compliance and health behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-six myocardial infarction patients were assessed for anxiety within one week and 31 months post-infarction.
- Cardiac events were systematically documented during the follow-up period.
- Sociodemographic, psychological, and physical parameters were analyzed for their predictive value.
Main Results:
- Cardiac events occurred in 24 patients over a mean 31-month follow-up.
- Anxious patients experienced more frequent and earlier cardiac events compared to non-anxious patients.
- Anxiety, age, gender, partner status, and diabetes were significant predictors of future cardiac events.
Conclusions:
- Elevated anxiety levels are associated with a higher risk of recurrent cardiac events after myocardial infarction.
- Anxiety influences patient behaviors, such as smoking cessation, post-myocardial infarction.
- Early assessment of anxiety is crucial for identifying patients at higher risk for adverse cardiac outcomes.
Background:
There is a lack of clarity concerning the effect of anxiety on the course of cardiac events following myocardial infarction. Some studies have identified anxiety as a risk factor for further cardiac events. However, it is also considered to be a protective factor, as a higher level of anxiety may improve patient compliance and regular medical checkups.
Methods:
A group of 76 patients with myocardial infarction underwent physical examination and had their anxiety levels assessed within the first week, and 31 months after myocardial infarction. Cardiac events were documented during the follow-up period. We investigated the predictive value for the occurrence of cardiac events of sociodemographic, psychological and physical parameters when evaluated within the first week after myocardial infarction. Compliancy and regularity of medical checkups were registered.
Results:
Cardiac events occurred in 24 patients during a mean follow-up period of 31 months. The group of anxious patients not only suffered more often from cardiac events, these events also occurred earlier than in nonanxious patients. Age, gender, partner status, level of anxiety and comorbid diabetes at the time of first assessment proved to be discriminatory variables between patients suffering further cardiac incidents and those free of further events. Anxious patients were more likely to continue smoking, whereas less anxious patients were more likely to give up smoking.
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