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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: May 27, 2022
Illness perception in overweight and obese patients with cardiovascular diseases
Alessandra Pokrajac-Bulian1, Neala Ambrosi-Randić2
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. pokrajac@ffri.hr.
Insights
Illness perception and cardiac anxiety are linked to anxiety and depression in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. For males, how patients perceive CVD impacts mental health, but this effect differs in females.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a significant health concern, often co-occurring with mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
- Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for CVD and can exacerbate psychological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between illness perception and cardiac anxiety, general anxiety, and depression in overweight/obese patients with CVD.
- To explore potential gender differences in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study involving 165 adult patients (32-89 years) admitted for cardiovascular events or procedures.
- Psychological assessments included validated questionnaires for illness perception, cardiac anxiety, general anxiety, and depression.
Main Results:
- Illness perception and cardiac anxiety were significantly associated with general anxiety and depression in the CVD patient sample.
- Regression analyses indicated that illness perception explained a significant portion of the variance in anxiety and depression for males, but not for females.
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight a gender-specific relationship between how patients perceive their cardiovascular disease and their mental health outcomes.
- These gender-specific interrelations suggest the need for tailored interventions to optimize therapeutic effectiveness in CVD patients.
Objective:
This study explored the relationship of illness perception with different aspects of cardiac anxiety, general anxiety and depression in a sample of male and female overweight and obese patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Study Design:
The clinical sample included 165 adults (113 males) aged from 32 to 89 years. The patients were admitted to the Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation for a major cardiovascular event, acute myocardial infarction or myocardial revascularization.
Measurements:
Psychological measurement included questionnaires of illness perception, cardiac anxiety, general anxiety and depression.
Results And Conclusions:
Illness perception and cardiac anxiety in patients with CVD were associated with anxiety and depression. Regression analysis showed that illness perception accounts for a significant proportion of the variance in both anxiety and depression for males, but not for females. Gender-specific interrelations between perceptions of CVD and indices of mental health have an implication for interventions to maximize the effect of therapy with these patients.
Level Of Evidence:
Level V, Descriptive study.
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