Relationship of the occurrence of self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms and achievement of cardiovascular risk factors control

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. Introduction Anxiety and depression influence lifestyle and therefore interfere with preventive measures aimed at eliminating or reducing the severity of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Aim The study aimed to evaluate the influence of self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms on achieving the control of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients without a history of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods A total of 200 patients from the Polish arm of the EUROASPIRE V were included. The median age was 52.0 years (IQR 43.0-60.5). Patients were assessed regarding the control of major CV risk factors: blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking, and the concentration of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose. Risk factors were considered adequately controlled when the therapeutic target was achieved. The number of controlled CV risk factors was assessed for each individual, as well as the rate of patients who achieved the therapeutic target for particular risk factor was analyzed. Total CVD risk was analyzed with the SCORE scale. The level of anxiety and depression was evaluated based on the results of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which consists of two subscales (HADS Anxiety and HADS Depression). For each subscale obtained score indicated normal, borderline, or abnormal level. Results The median score of anxiety (HADS Anxiety) and depression (HADS Depression) levels were 3.0 (IQR 2.0-6.0) and 3.0 (IQR 1.0-5.0), respectively. In the studied group the median of adequately controlled CV risk factors was 4.0 (IQR 3.0-5.0) and the median SCORE result was 2.0% (IQR 1.0-3.0%). No relationship between the level of anxiety or depression and the CVD risk measured by the SCORE sale was observed (Table 1.). Patients with self-reported anxiety or depression symptoms (borderline and abnormal level) had a significantly lower median number of adequately controlled CV risk factors (HADS Anxiety p = 0.0014; HADS Depression p = 0.0304) (Table 1.). A significantly lower rate of patients with adequate waist circumference (HADS Anxiety p = 0.0464; HADS Depression p = 0.0200) and with regular physical activity (HADS Anxiety p = 0.0431; HADS Depression p = 0.0055) was observed in groups with anxiety or depression symptoms (Table 2.). In patients with anxiety symptoms, a significantly lower rate of normal BMI (p = 0.0218) and adequate triglycerides concentration (p = 0.0278) was found (Table 2.). Conclusion The occurrence of anxiety and depression might influence the achievement of therapeutic targets regarding the control of CV risk factors in patients without a history of CHD.