Key result
Non-cardiac chest pain is linked to higher post-clinic anxiety than cardiac chest pain.
Why the study?
Psychological morbidity and illness beliefs in patients with chest pain of cardiac versus non-cardiac origin attending a rapid access chest pain clinic were not well characterized.
Does a diagnosis of non-cardiac chest pain compared to cardiac chest pain affect levels of affective disturbance, health anxiety and illness perception in patients with acute, undifferentiated chest pain?
Population
246 patients with acute, undifferentiated chest pain attending a rapid access chest pain clinic in Leicester, UK
Comparison
Patients with cardiac chest pain versus patients with non-cardiac chest pain
Design
Longitudinal cohort study
Follow-up
1 week and 2 months
Authors
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Persistent anxiety after non-cardiac chest pain clinic visits warrants caution with reassurance alone; leaves open whether structured interventions reduce distress.
Cohort (n=246)
No
Does a diagnosis of non-cardiac chest pain compared to cardiac chest pain affect levels of affective disturbance, health anxiety and illness perception in patients with acute, undifferentiated chest pain?
Patients with non-cardiac chest pain experience sustained high levels of anxiety after clinic evaluation, highlighting the need for structured psychological interventions.
Robertson et al. (2007) conducted a cohort in acute, undifferentiated chest pain (n=246). Non-cardiac chest pain vs. Cardiac chest pain was evaluated on Levels of affective disturbance, health anxiety and illness perception. Non-cardiac chest pain was associated with significantly higher anxiety levels after clinic attendance compared to cardiac chest pain, remaining above community norms at 2 months.
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