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An anxious heart: anxiety and the onset of cardiovascular diseases

Rebecca C Thurston1, Marissa Rewak, Laura D Kubzansky

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. thurstonrc@upmc.edu

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Anxiety is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Addressing anxiety may offer a key strategy for preventing CVD and reducing its public health burden.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a substantial public health burden.
  • Modifiable risk factors for CVD include health behaviors, risk factors, and mental health conditions like anxiety.
  • Anxiety is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable CVD risk factor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the role of anxiety in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • To evaluate anxiety as a target for primordial CVD prevention strategies.
  • To summarize current research on anxiety and incident CVD and subclinical CVD outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research findings.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the link between anxiety and CVD incidence.
  • Exploration of potential mechanisms linking anxiety to CVD.

Main Results:

  • Anxiety is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Evidence suggests anxiety impacts both clinical and subclinical CVD outcomes.
  • Several potential biological and behavioral mechanisms may mediate the anxiety-CVD relationship.

Conclusions:

  • Anxiety represents a critical, modifiable target for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.
  • Primordial prevention strategies should consider addressing anxiety to mitigate CVD risk.
  • Clinical providers should be aware of the link between anxiety and CVD and incorporate relevant assessments and interventions.

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