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Published on: July 19, 2017
Heart-focused anxiety in the general population
Denise Fischer1, Ingrid Kindermann, Julia Karbach
1Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Klinik für Innere Medizin III (Kardiologie, Angiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin), Kirrberger Straße, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany. denise.fischer@uks.eu
Summary
Heart-focused anxiety increases with age and is influenced by social factors like education and income. The Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) reliably measures this anxiety in the general population.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart-focused anxiety is prevalent and linked to mental health and cardiac conditions.
- Understanding its prevalence and influencing factors in the general population is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate heart-focused anxiety in the general population.
- To establish standard values using the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ).
- To assess CAQ reliability and the impact of social variables on heart-focused anxiety.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey of 2,396 individuals (aged 18-92).
- Utilized the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) to measure fear, attention, and avoidance aspects of anxiety.
- Employed statistical analyses (ANOVA, correlation, regression) to examine age, gender, and social influences.
Main Results:
- Heart-focused anxiety demonstrated a linear increase with age (P < 0.001).
- No significant gender differences were found.
- Anxiety levels were significantly affected by relationship status, education, employment, and income (P < 0.001 for all).
Conclusions:
- The CAQ is a reliable tool for evaluating heart-focused anxiety in the general population.
- Normative data from the CAQ can aid in screening individuals with or without cardiac disease.
- The CAQ can monitor therapeutic interventions for heart-focused anxiety.
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