Prevalence of anxiety in coronary patients with improvement following cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training.

Numerous studies have indicated that psychological distress, including anxiety, is a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 500 consecutive patients after recent CAD events and demonstrated a very high prevalence of generalized anxiety and moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, particularly in younger patients. In addition, our data demonstrate the abnormal CAD risk profiles in these anxious patients with CAD and the marked improvements in the overall risk profiles, levels of anxiety, and overall quality of life after cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs. Greater attention at detecting and treating chronic anxiety, particularly with formal cardiac rehabilitation, is needed for the secondary prevention of CAD.

[1]  A. Stewart,et al.  Functional status and well-being of patients with chronic conditions. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study. , 1989, JAMA.

[2]  J. Blumenthal,et al.  Impact of psychological factors on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and implications for therapy. , 1999, Circulation.

[3]  William H. Rogers,et al.  Functional Status and Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Conditions , 1989 .

[4]  C. Lavie,et al.  Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training on indexes of dispersion of ventricular repolarization in patients after acute myocardial infarction. , 2003, The American journal of cardiology.

[5]  P. Ades,et al.  Cardiac rehabilitation participation predicts lower rehospitalization costs. , 1992, American heart journal.

[6]  C. Lavie,et al.  Effects of aerobic exercise training on indices of ventricular repolarization in patients with chronic heart failure. , 1999, Chest.

[7]  C. Lavie,et al.  Behavioral differences and effects of cardiac rehabilitation in diabetic patients following cardiac events. , 1996, The American journal of medicine.

[8]  P. Vokonas,et al.  Symptoms of anxiety and risk of coronary heart disease. The Normative Aging Study. , 1994, Circulation.

[9]  C. Lavie,et al.  Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs on coronary patients with high levels of hostility. , 1999, Mayo Clinic proceedings.

[10]  C. Lavie,et al.  Prevalence and profile of metabolic syndrome in patients following acute coronary events and effects of therapeutic lifestyle change with cardiac rehabilitation. , 2003, The American journal of cardiology.

[11]  Alberto Porta,et al.  Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training on autonomic regulation in patients with coronary artery disease. , 2002, American heart journal.

[12]  R. Kellner.  A symptom questionnaire. , 1987, The Journal of clinical psychiatry.

[13]  C. Lavie,et al.  Prevalence and effects of cardiac rehabilitation on depression in the elderly with coronary heart disease. , 1998, The American journal of cardiology.

[14]  C. Lavie,et al.  Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs on depression in patients after major coronary events. , 1996, American heart journal.

[15]  J. O’Keefe,et al.  Autonomic tone as a cardiovascular risk factor: the dangers of chronic fight or flight. , 2002, Mayo Clinic proceedings.

[16]  E. Rimm,et al.  Prospective study of phobic anxiety and risk of coronary heart disease in men. , 1994, Circulation.

[17]  C. Lavie,et al.  Effects of cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs in women with depression. , 1999, The American journal of cardiology.

[18]  J. Buring,et al.  An overview of randomized trials of rehabilitation with exercise after myocardial infarction. , 1989, Circulation.

[19]  R. Kellner,et al.  A self-rating scale of distress , 1973, Psychological Medicine.

[20]  T. Meade,et al.  Phobic anxiety and ischaemic heart disease. , 1987, British medical journal.