Chronic inflammation is associated with increased anxiety in the Cancer Disparities Research Network

Systemic chronic inflammation is associated with the development of diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. Recent research has shown that psychological state can influence inflammation, demonstrating the mind-body connection; however, there is limited knowledge on whether self-perception of quality of life has physiological effects on systemic chronic inflammatory biomarkers among healthy individuals. Furthermore, there is a gap in the literature on this connection among minoritized and underserved populations, despite known increased chronic stress. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the association between quality-of-life measures, such as anxiety, and blood-based inflammation markers in the Cancer Disparities Research Network (CDRN), which recruited a study population of individuals who were minoritized or medically underserved. CDRN participants were recruited from four institutions between January 2015 and April 2017 and asked to complete a baseline survey and provide a biospecimen. Biomarkers were measured using customized human analyte assay kits. Of the measured markers, six were significantly correlated with overall anxiety and not significantly correlated with other measured markers. Using multivariate linear regressions, we found that mild and moderate/severe anxiety were significantly associated with gp130 and MMP-1 concentration, and moderate/severe anxiety was associated with APRIL concentration. These findings emphasize the importance of psychological well-being and its potential long-term influence on physical health and disease progression.