Sonja Maria Wedegärtner1, Igor Schwantke2, Ingrid Kindermann2, Julia Karbach3. 1. Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care) of the Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland University; Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 24; 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: sonja.wedegaertner@uks.eu. 2. Department of Internal Medicine III (Cardiology, Angiology, and Intensive Care) of the Saarland University Medical Center, Saarland University; Kirrberger Str. 100, Building 24; 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7; 76829 Landau/Pfalz.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been shown that heart-focused anxiety raises the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with heart disease. Yet, there is a lack of studies investigating this association. We aim at identifying predictors of heart-focused anxiety in patients with stable heart failure to facilitate the identification of individuals with increased risk for adverse outcomes. METHODS: We assessed heart-focused anxiety and a set of psychological, demographic/lifestyle, and medical/laboratory variables in a sample of 107 patients with stable chronic heart failure to identify predictors of heart-focused anxiety. RESULTS: Heart-focused anxiety was best predicted by self-reported anxiety and quality of life. Moreover, the personality dimension conscientiousness as well as physical activity, and the laboratory value of renal function, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), had predictive validity for heart-focused anxiety. LIMITATIONS: The present findings should be replicated in a longitudinal design with a less selective sample including more women and participants with more divers ethnical backgrounds. CONCLUSION: Heart-focused anxiety is predictable by psychological and lifestyle variables. eGFR, as a laboratory marker for renal function, showed also predictive validity. The awareness of such predictors may help detecting comorbid underlying heart-focused anxiety and thus identify patients with an increased need for psychological care.
BACKGROUND: It has been shown that heart-focused anxiety raises the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with heart disease. Yet, there is a lack of studies investigating this association. We aim at identifying predictors of heart-focused anxiety in patients with stable heart failure to facilitate the identification of individuals with increased risk for adverse outcomes. METHODS: We assessed heart-focused anxiety and a set of psychological, demographic/lifestyle, and medical/laboratory variables in a sample of 107 patients with stable chronic heart failure to identify predictors of heart-focused anxiety. RESULTS: Heart-focused anxiety was best predicted by self-reported anxiety and quality of life. Moreover, the personality dimension conscientiousness as well as physical activity, and the laboratory value of renal function, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), had predictive validity for heart-focused anxiety. LIMITATIONS: The present findings should be replicated in a longitudinal design with a less selective sample including more women and participants with more divers ethnical backgrounds. CONCLUSION: Heart-focused anxiety is predictable by psychological and lifestyle variables. eGFR, as a laboratory marker for renal function, showed also predictive validity. The awareness of such predictors may help detecting comorbid underlying heart-focused anxiety and thus identify patients with an increased need for psychological care.
Authors: Bonnie M Vest; Brian M Quigley; Denise F Lillvis; Caroline Horrigan-Maurer; Rebecca S Firth; Anne B Curtis; Jeffrey M Lackner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2022-01-06 Impact factor: 6.473
Authors: Valérie Pavlicek; Sonja Maria Wedegärtner; Dominic Millenaar; Jan Wintrich; Michael Böhm; Ingrid Kindermann; Christian Ukena Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-03-22 Impact factor: 4.241