Key result
Patients with cardiac symptoms and normal coronary arteries had significantly higher incidences of mental symptoms, including a 27% increase in heart-focused anxiety compared to the normal population.
Why the study?
Do patients with cardiac symptoms and normal coronary arteries have a higher incidence of mental symptoms compared to the normal population?
Observational (n=253)
No
Do patients with cardiac symptoms and normal coronary arteries have a higher incidence of mental symptoms compared to the normal population?
Effect estimate: 27% relative increase
p-value: p=<0.001
Patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms experience a high burden of persistent physical and psychological symptoms, highlighting the need for psychological evaluation and support in this population.
Supports psychological evaluation in this population; leaves open whether interventions improve long-term outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: Patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries often suffer from physical and psychological symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the incidence of mental symptoms in patients with angiographic exclusion of a coronary heart disease. DESIGN: In 253 patients with angiographic exclusion of a coronary heart disease the type and intensity of their symptoms were evaluated before and after coronary angiography. In addition, the incidence of psychopathological symptoms was quantified by standardised questionnaires such as general anxiety and depression (HADS), heart-focused anxiety (CAQ), hypochondria (Whiteley Index) and somatoform disorder (SOMS) and quality of life (SF-12). Finally, the incidence of psychological symptoms in these patients was compared to the incidence in the normal population. RESULTS: Despite the absence of a coronary artery disease, 70% of patients continue to suffer from cardiac symptoms. The incidence of general anxiety was increased by 37% in women and by 22% in men in comparison to the normal population. Heart-focused anxiety was raised by 27%. Somatoform disorder appeared 120% more often in patients after cardiac catheterisation in comparison to the normal population. In addition, the incidence of hypochondria was elevated by 68% in patients after coronary angiography compared to normal population. This increased appearance of psychological symptoms was reflected in a significantly lower quality of life (SF-12) in patients with inconspicuous coronary angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cardiac symptoms and normal coronary arteries more often suffer from mental symptoms in comparison to the healthy population.
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Christoph et al. (2014) conducted an observational in Cardiac symptoms with normal coronary arteries (non-cardiac chest pain) (n=253). Cardiac symptoms with normal coronary arteries vs. Normal healthy population was evaluated on Heart-focused anxiety (CAQ-Total score) (27% relative increase, p=<0.001). Patients with cardiac symptoms and normal coronary arteries had significantly higher incidences of mental symptoms, including a 27% increase in heart-focused anxiety compared to the normal population.
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