Panic disorder in chest pain patients was not associated with 9-year mortality or cardiac morbidity but was linked to poorer general health (p<0.001), depression (p=0.005), and anxiety (p=0.039).
Cohort (n=199)
Does panic disorder affect long-term mortality, morbidity, and quality of life in patients presenting with chest pain?
Panic disorder in chest pain patients does not increase long-term mortality or cardiac events but significantly impairs long-term psychological and physical well-being.
AIMS: The aim was to assess the association between panic disorder (PD) and the long-term outcome of chest pain patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Patients (n = 199) consecutively referred to a cardiology outpatient clinic because of chest pain were reassessed after 9 years. At the initial examination 16% suffered from CAD and 38% from PD. Data were collected on mortality, cardiac events, cardiac risk factors, chest pain, anxiety and depression (SCL-90-R), and health-related quality of life (SF-36). RESULTS: The death rate in the study population was not significantly different from that in the general population and no significant associations were found between PD at baseline and mortality and cardiac morbidity at follow-up. PD was associated with significantly higher follow-up scores of chest pain intensity (p = 0.025), depression (p = 0.005), anxiety (p = 0.039), and poorer health-related quality of life: physical functioning (p = 0.004), role physical (p = 0.001), body pain (p = 0.007), and general health (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PD has a negative long-term effect on psychological and physical well-being of chest pain patients which emphasizes the necessity of identifying PD patients and offering them adequate treatment.
Bringager et al. (2007) conducted a cohort in Chest pain (n=199). Panic disorder vs. No panic disorder was evaluated on Mortality, cardiac morbidity, and health-related quality of life. Panic disorder in chest pain patients was not associated with 9-year mortality or cardiac morbidity but was linked to poorer general health (p<0.001), depression (p=0.005), and anxiety (p=0.039).