Anxiety as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden.
Insights
Anxiety is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, influencing other conditions and increasing cardiac event risk. Managing anxiety is crucial for patients, especially after heart transplants.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Anxiety is increasingly recognized as a significant comorbidity in cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Emerging research focuses on the interplay between mental stress and cardiovascular health, including mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies investigating the role of anxiety as a companion condition in cardiovascular disease.
- To explore the impact of anxiety on various cardiovascular conditions and interventions.
Main Methods:
- The review synthesizes findings from prospective population-based studies.
- It includes studies on patients with established cardiovascular disease, undergoing interventions like coronary bypass grafting, heart transplants, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator procedures.
- Rehabilitation programs were also considered.
Main Results:
- Anxiety is identified as a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, potentially influencing other risk factors like depression, substance use, obesity, and sedentary behavior.
- Anxiety exacerbates the risk of major adverse cardiac events in patients with coronary heart disease.
- Further research is needed to understand anxiety's role in takotsubo cardiomyopathy and white-coat hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety is a critical factor in cardiovascular disease, impacting disease development and progression.
- Effective anxiety management is vital for cardiovascular patients, particularly for ensuring adherence to immunosuppressive therapy post-heart transplant.
Purpose Of Review:
The narrative review covers recent studies of anxiety as a companion in cardiovascular disease.
Recent Findings:
Prospective population-based studies and studies of cases with known cardiovascular disease have been conducted, as well as studies of intervention with coronary bypass grafting, heart transplants, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and subsequent rehabilitation programs. Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) stands for this emerging research arena.
Summary:
Anxiety has emerged as perhaps the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, determining other known risk factors, such as depression, substance use, overweight, and a sedentary lifestyle. Anxiety also increases the risk of major cardiac events in coronary heart disease. There is a need for elucidating the influence of anxiety in takotsubo and in white-coat hypertension. Managing anxiety is of vital importance in patients who have received heart transplants, to ascertain adherence to immunosuppressants.
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