Anxiety and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: a Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Psychiatry
• Psychocardiology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Anxiety is frequently unrecognized in cardiology, leading to frequent emergency visits and extensive testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Anxiety disorders are increasingly linked to the onset and progression of CVD, though causality is not yet established.
• Anxiety independently predicts poor outcomes in patients with existing CVD, separate from depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between anxiety and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• To describe methods for identifying and treating anxiety in cardiac patients.
• To explore potential mechanisms linking anxiety to heart disease (cardiogenesis).

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on anxiety, its subtypes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Analysis of emerging research on anxiety disorders and CVD risk.
• Examination of potential pathways for anxiety-induced heart disease.

Main Results:

• Anxiety disorders are associated with an increased risk of developing CVD.
• Anxiety negatively impacts prognosis in individuals with established CVD, independent of depression.
• Guidelines for identifying and managing anxiety in cardiac settings are needed.

Conclusions:

• Anxiety requires greater clinical and research attention, similar to depression.
• Understanding anxiety's role is vital for developing new treatments for heart disease.
• Interventions targeting anxiety can benefit individuals at risk for or with existing CVD.