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Association between anxiety and C-reactive protein levels in stable coronary heart disease patients

Bettina Bankier1, Justine Barajas, Abelardo Martinez-Rumayor

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria. bettina.bankier@meduniwien.ac.at

Psychosomatics
|August 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Anxiety is linked to elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in stable coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. This suggests a potential biological connection between anxiety and cardiovascular risk, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Anxiety is common in stable coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
  • The biological mechanisms linking anxiety and CHD are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate anxiety in stable CHD patients.
  • To examine the relationship between anxiety and cardiac biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP).

Main Methods:

  • Included 43 CHD patients with anxiety disorder and 42 without.
  • Used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV for diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Anxiety disorder was associated with higher CRP levels in CHD patients.
  • This association remained significant after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.

Conclusions:

  • Anxiety shows a significant association with CHD risk.
  • A potential biological link exists between anxiety and elevated CRP, a key prognostic biomarker.
  • Anxiety disorders should be considered alongside depressive disorders in CHD research.
Abstract

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