Risk factors for depresion and anxiety in the patient with aortic valve stenosis

Abstract

Anxiety disorders and depression are common along with negative effects in different areas of the patient such as lower quality of life, lower adherence to treatment, negative perception of oneself along with underlying comorbidities and mortality, which is why these disorders are usually considered as symptoms and not as an independent factor that require greater detection, care and early treatment. Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Among them there is a subgroup of valvopathies which can occur in young patients (congenital alterations) and in elderly patients (called calcific or degenerative aortic valve stenosis) consisting of calcium crystal formation and lipid accumulation. These processes damage the valve generating aortic sclerosis characterized by thickening of the leaflets. Valvopathies are usually asymptomatic during the first years after their onset, and several modifiable and non-modifiable factors have been related to the progression of the disease. Psychological alterations can occur in these patients before, during and/or after discharge, generating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, the frequency of which is unknown, which is why the general objective of the article is the importance of recognizing the symptomatology to favour prognosis through timely diagnosis to generate future interdisciplinary interventions and improve the quality of patients.