Patients with panic disorder-related chest pain had significantly worse physical (18.3 vs 21.1) and psychological (15.6 vs 20.9) quality of life scores compared to patients with coronary artery disease.
Observational (n=137)
No
Does quality of life differ between patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease, panic disorder-related chest pain, and healthy controls?
Patients with panic disorder-related non-cardiac chest pain experience significantly worse quality of life than those with newly diagnosed CAD, highlighting the need for prompt psychiatric recognition and treatment.
Absolute Event Rate: 18.3% vs 21.1%
p-value: p=<0.001
OBJECTIVES: The quality of life (QOL) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is known to be impaired. Non-cardiac chest pain referrals are often under-diagnosed and untreated, and there are hardly any studies comparing the QOL of CAD and panic disorder related (non-cardiac) chest pain referrals (PDRC). METHODS: We assessed the psychiatric morbidity and QOL of patients newly diagnosed with CAD (n = 40) at baseline and six weeks post-treatment and compared their QOL with patients with PDRC (n = 40) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 57). Psychiatric morbidity in the CAD group was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) item, Hamilton Anxiety Scores (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Scores (HAMD). QOL measures were determined by the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire (brief) and Seattle Angina Questionnaire. The CAD group was treated with anti-ischemic drugs (nitrates, betablockers), antiplatelet drugs (acetylsalicylsalicylic acid), anticoagulants (low molecular weight heparin, clopidogrel), and managed for risk factors. The PDRC group was treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and anxiolytics. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients in the PDRC group had a worse QOL than those in the CAD and healthy control groups. This highlights the need for careful diagnosis and prompt treatment of panic disorder in these patients to improve their QOL. Additionally, smoking, the use of other tobacco products, and hypercholesterolemia were associated with angina symptoms in patients with CAD.
Srivastava et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Coronary Artery Disease and Panic Disorder (n=137). Standard medical therapy (SSRIs/anxiolytics for panic disorder; anti-ischemics/antiplatelets for CAD) vs. Healthy controls and cross-cohort comparison was evaluated on Physical domain score on WHOQOL-BREF (p=<0.001). Patients with panic disorder-related chest pain had significantly worse physical (18.3 vs 21.1) and psychological (15.6 vs 20.9) quality of life scores compared to patients with coronary artery disease.