Prevalence and Measurement of Anxiety in Samples of Patients With Heart Failure: Meta-analysis

Relationships between heart failure, depression, and anxiety: A Mendelian randomization study

Growing evidence suggests that heart failure (HF) is associated with an increased risk of depressive disorders and anxiety. However, the existing studies were observational and may have confounded and not reflected true causal relationships. This study collected genetic instruments about HF, depression, and anxiety from publicly available genetic summary data. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed, with inverse-variance weighted designated as the primary approach for determining causal effects. Secondary analyses included MR-Egger regression and the weighted media method. Additionally, we conducted MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier to address horizontal pleiotropy. Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis were used to assess the robustness of the findings. The significance is determined by a P-value below .05. Gene prediction result revealed that HF did not exhibit a significant association with elevated incidence of depression by inverse-variance weighted method no matter HF from the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets Consortium (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.93-1.18, P = .424 for major depressive disorder, MDD; OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.94-1.09, P = .782 for major depression) or the FinnGen Consortium (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.92-1.15, P = .644 for MDD; OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.94-1.07, P = .962 for major depression). In contrast, the results of HF on anxiety exhibited inconsistency (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.10-2.31, P = .013 for Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets Consortium; OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.91-2.21, P = .123 for FinnGen Consortium); however, a combined effect analysis indicated support causal relationship between HF and the risk of anxiety (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.07-2.00, P < .001). Our findings did not reveal evidence to confirm a causal association between HF and depression. However, our results provide support for a causal effect of HF on the risk of anxiety.

Temporal evolution of anxiety and depression in chronic heart failure and its association with clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

Although anxiety and depression have been associated with adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF), data on temporal evolution of these symptoms are scarce. We aimed to investigate the association between repeatedly measured depression and anxiety symptoms and clinical outcome in chronic HF patients.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, outpatients with chronic HF were included and followed-up for a maximum of 2.5 years. The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaire was conducted every six months. The primary endpoint was a composite of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Cox and joint models were used to investigate the association between the HADS score and the endpoint.

RESULTS

A total of 362 patients filled out a median (25th-75th percentile) of 3 [2-4] questionnaires each. Mean ± SD age was 63 ± 13 years, 72% were men. Anxiety scores remained relatively stable leading up to the endpoint, while depression scores increased. Higher baseline depression scores were significantly associated with the endpoint (hazard ratio [HR] 1.68 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-2.36 per log(score+1), p = 0.003), while higher baseline anxiety scores did not reach statistical significance (HR [95% CI] 1.34 [0.99-1.83], p = 0.061). When repeatedly measured, both higher anxiety (HR [95% CI] 1.57[1.07-2.30], p = 0.022) and depression (HR [95% CI] 2.04 [1.39-3.06], p < 0.001) scores were significantly associated with the endpoint.

CONCLUSION

Serial measurements of depression and anxiety symptoms identify chronic HF patients with increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Screening for both disorders should be considered in clinical practice.

Psychosocial readiness assessment for heart transplant candidates

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial evaluation for transplant suitability is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a condition of participation for transplant programs. There are no regulations regarding follow-up reassessment for transplant readiness after waitlisting.

OBJECTIVES

An evidence-based pilot project was developed and implemented to evaluate the feasibility of psychosocial readiness assessments for waitlisted heart transplantation candidates. The primary aim was to test the feasibility of these assessments in practice from a patient and programmatic perspective.

METHODS

During a 12-week period, waitlisted outpatients underwent one assessment each. Socioeconomic elements of caregiver support, housing, transportation, and insurance coverage status were assessed by simple using "yes/no" questions. To assess mental health needs, the General Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) tools were utilized. Rescheduled readiness visits and no-show rates were measured. A post-implementation Qualtrics survey was administered to measure team member perceptions of feasibility.

RESULTS

A total of 57 patients were assessed during the 12-week period. The primary aim of feasibility was achieved with 93 % of visits performed with freedom from rescheduling or patient no-show to the visit. Additionally, 75 % of team members reported the readiness assessments were feasible to complete in practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing the non-medical and mental health needs of waitlisted heart transplant patients allows transplant programs to maintain candidates with necessary resources and care. The readiness assessments are feasible in practice and may serve to reduce untoward outcomes in the post-transplant phase by providing targeted care prior to the time of transplant.

Cardiovascular Disease, Genetic Susceptibility, and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders and Suicide Attempt: A Community-Based Matched Cohort Study Based on the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

The associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and multiple psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt, and whether different genetic susceptibilities affect such links, have not been investigated clearly.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on the UK Biobank, we conducted a matched cohort study involving 63 923 patients who were first hospitalized with a CVD diagnosis between 1997 and 2020, and their 127 845 matched unexposed individuals. Cox models were used to examine the subsequent risk of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt (ie, anxiety, depression, stress-related disorder, substance misuse, psychotic disorder, and suicide behaviors) following CVD. We further performed stratified analyses by polygenic risk score for each studied psychiatric condition to detect the possible effects of genetic susceptibility on the observed associations. We found an increased risk of any psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt among CVD patients, compared with matched unexposed individuals, particularly within 1 year following the CVD (fully adjusted hazard ratio [HR] within 1 year, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.58-2.12]; HR after 1 year, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.16-1.32]). By subtype, the risk elevations existed for any psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt following most categories of CVDs. Analyses stratified by polygenic risk score revealed little impact of genetic predisposition to studied psychiatric conditions on these observed links.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients hospitalized for CVD were at increased subsequent risk of multiple types of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt, especially in the first year after hospitalization, irrespective of their genetic susceptibilities to studied psychiatric conditions, and these findings underscore the necessity of developing timely psychological interventions for this vulnerable population.

Effectiveness of a videoconferencing group-based dyad acceptance and commitment therapy on the quality of life of chronic heart failure patients and their family caregivers: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) poses a significant burden on both patients and their family caregivers (FCs), as it is associated with psychological distress and impaired quality of life (QOL). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports QOL by focusing on value living and facilitates acceptance of psychological difficulties by cultivating psychological flexibility. A protocol is presented that evaluates the effectiveness of a dyad ACT-based intervention delivered via smartphone on QOL and other related health outcomes compared with CHF education only.

METHODS

This is a single-center, two-armed, single-blinded (rater), randomized controlled trial (RCT). One hundred and sixty dyads of CHF patients and their primary FCs will be recruited from the Cardiology Department of a hospital in China. The dyads will be stratified block randomized to either the intervention group experiencing the ACT-based intervention or the control group receiving CHF education only. Both groups will meet two hours per week for four consecutive weeks in videoconferencing sessions over smartphone. The primary outcomes are the QOL of patients and their FCs. Secondary outcomes include psychological flexibility, psychological symptoms, self-care behavior, and other related outcomes. All outcomes will be measured by blinded outcome assessors at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at the three-month follow-up. Multilevel modeling will be conducted to assess the effects of the intervention.

DISCUSSION

This study is the first to adopt an ACT-based intervention for CHF patient-caregiver dyads delivered in groups via smartphone. If effective and feasible, the intervention strategy and deliverable approach could be incorporated into clinical policies and guidelines to support families with CHF without geographic and time constraints.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04917159. Registered on 08 June 2021.

The Role of the Clinical Psychologist in the Care of Adults With Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is on the rise globally and, along with mental health conditions, will represent the largest public health burden, especially in a world impacted by climate change. Behavior, psychological mechanisms, and CVD are closely correlated. Evidence-based psychological interventions targeting behavior and psychological mechanisms exist across the CVD spectrum. This statement proposes the development of a subspecialty "cardiovascular psychology" to develop integrated pathways of behavioral care delivered to CVD populations. Scope of practice is discussed as it relates to diagnosing and treating comorbid health disorders, behavioral change interventions, pain management, lifestyle and wellbeing, neuropsychological assessment, and cognitive rehabilitation. An agenda on reforms for financials, training pathways, and diversification of the workforce is presented. Finally, normalizing the integration of behavioral health as part of CVD treatment is a shared responsibility across professional organizations and the community to realize value-based CVD care.

Anxiety disorder and cardiovascular disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

AIMS

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric conditions associated with cardiovascular outcomes. This two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study investigated the causal relationship between anxiety disorders and coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with anxiety disorders (16 730 cases; 101 021 controls) were obtained from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study (GWAS). Cardiovascular outcome data were derived from the FinnGen study (CHD: 21 012 cases and 197 780 controls; MI: 12 801 cases and 187 840 controls; HF: 23 397 cases and 194 811 controls; and AF: 22 068 cases and 116 926 controls). Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode analyses examined causality.

RESULTS

IVW analysis demonstrated significant causal relationships between anxiety disorders and increased risk of CHD [odds ratio (OR): 4.496; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.777-11.378; P = 0.002], MI (OR: 5.042; 95% CI: 1.451-17.518; P = 0.011), and HF (OR: 3.255; 95% CI: 1.461-7.252; P = 0.004). No relationship was observed with AF (OR: 1.775; 95% CI: 0.612-5.146; P = 0.29). Other methods showed non-significant associations. Two-way analysis indicated no reverse causality.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety disorders were causally associated with greater risk of CHD, MI, and HF but not AF among individuals of European descent. Further research on mediating mechanisms and in diverse populations is warranted.

Impact of mental disorders on unplanned readmissions for congestive heart failure patients: a population-level study

AIMS

Reducing preventable hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients is a challenge for health systems worldwide. CHF patients who also have a recent or ongoing mental disorder may have worse health outcomes compared with CHF patients with no mental disorders. This study examined the impact of mental disorders on 28 day unplanned readmissions of CHF patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study used population-level linked public and private hospitalization and death data of adults aged ≥18 years who had a CHF admission in New South Wales, Australia, between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2020. Individuals' mental disorder diagnosis and Charlson comorbidity and hospital frailty index scores were derived from admission records. Competing risk and cause-specific risk analyses were conducted to examine the impact of having a mental disorder diagnosis on all-cause hospital readmission. Of the 65 861 adults with index CHF admission discharged alive (mean age: 78.6 ± 12.1; 48% female), 19.2% (12 675) had at least one unplanned readmission within 28 days following discharge. Adults with CHF with a mental disorder diagnosis within 12 months had a higher risk of 28 day all-cause unplanned readmission [hazard ratio (HR): 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.27, P-value < 0.001], particularly those with anxiety disorder (HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.35-1.65, P-value < 0.001). CHF patients aged ≥85 years (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.11-1.28), having ≥3 other comorbidities (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.25-1.46), and having an intermediate (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.28-1.40) or high (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27-1.47) frailty score on admission had a higher risk of unplanned readmission. CHF patients with a mental disorder who have ≥3 other comorbidities and an intermediate frailty score had the highest probability of unplanned readmission (29.84%, 95% CI: 24.68-35.73%) after considering other patient-level factors and competing events.

CONCLUSIONS

CHF patients who had a mental disorder diagnosis in the past 12 months are more likely to be readmitted compared with those without a mental disorder diagnosis. CHF patients with frailty and a mental disorder have the highest probability of readmission. Addressing mental health care services in CHF patient's discharge plan could potentially assist reduce unplanned readmissions.

Traditional Chinese exercises on depression: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Exercise is an important factor for the treatment and rehabilitation of depression. Traditional Chinese exercise is considered as an effective treatment for depression. In recent years, many studies have shown that Chinese exercise therapy may be safe in the treatment of depression. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese exercise on depression using network meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP shop Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, and Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platform were included in randomized controlled studies on traditional Chinese exercises for the treatment of depression from the establishment of the library to July 2023. The literature was extracted and assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment and statistically analyzed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 14.2.

RESULTS

A total of 25 studies involving 3 exercises with a total of 1605 cases were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that each exercise significantly reduced the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24), Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Self-rating Depression Scale scores. However, conventional treatments have the advantage of improving the sleep quality of patients with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3 exercises included in this study were effective for depression. Baduanjin and Tai Chi were better at improving the outcomes related to depression and anxiety. The effect of sleep quality intervention was slightly worse. Larger, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to compare interventions across exercises in a more granular manner.

Enhancement of Preoperative Mental Health Assessment Through Clinical Nurse Specialist Project Leadership

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

The aim of the project was to discern whether a collaborative, consultative-rich, clinical nurse specialist-led project could increase completion rates of a patient health questionnaire for depression and a generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire with appropriate referrals in adult patients in the ambulatory and hospital settings of a robust cardiovascular surgery practice before cardiovascular surgery.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

The Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control implementation methodology guided this quality improvement project. The workflow was analyzed in collaboration with stakeholders, and barriers to and facilitators of questionnaire completion were identified. Interpreter services partnerships were enhanced and used for patients with a preferred language other than English. Weekly data analysis assessed ongoing questionnaire completion rates.

OUTCOME

Documented completion rates of questionnaires improved across ambulatory and hospital settings by 15%. Patients with a preferred language other than English had an 80-percentage-point increase in documented questionnaire completion.

CONCLUSION

Clinical nurse specialists are poised to lead projects because of their use of the collaborative and consultative core competencies. A formal electronic health record report was established for monitoring outcomes. Embedding questionnaire administration within the standard workflow of ambulatory and hospital staff makes administering questionnaires preoperatively a sustainable practice in both settings.

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Outcomes Among Individuals With HIV and Heart Failure: A Literature Review

This narrative review examines the complex interplay between social determinants of health (SDoH) and the outcomes for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and heart failure (HF), two conditions that pose significant socioeconomic burdens globally. With millions affected by these conditions, the review delves into how socioeconomic status, education, geography, and immigration status influence health outcomes. It further explores the exacerbating roles of stigma and mental health issues, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions and the importance of enhancing health literacy and community support. Key findings suggest that lower socioeconomic status, limited education, rural residency, and immigrant status are associated with poorer health outcomes in individuals with HIV and HF. These factors contribute to increased morbidity and mortality and decreased quality of life, highlighting the necessity of addressing SDoH to improve patient care and outcomes. There is a critical need for integrated care models that consider the medical, social, and psychological factors affecting those with HIV and HF. Strategies proposed include improving access to care, addressing socioeconomic disparities, enhancing educational efforts, and fostering community engagement. Moreover, the importance of mental healthcare integration into the management of HIV and HF is strongly advocated to improve patient outcomes. By taking a comprehensive look at the various social challenges, embracing integrated care models, and making sure everyone has fair access to healthcare services, we can make real progress in enhancing the lives of those affected by HIV and HF. This approach cannot only lower death rates but also significantly improve the quality of life for these individuals.

Expert Recommendations to Bridge Gaps in Heart Failure Patient Support in the Middle East and Africa Region

Heart failure (HF) remains a serious health and socioeconomic problem in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The age-standardized prevalence rate for HF in the MEA region is higher compared to countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Also cardiovascular-related deaths remain high compared to their global counterparts. Moreover, in MEA, 66% of HF readmissions are elicited by potentially preventable factors, including delay in seeking medical attention, nonadherence to HF medication, suboptimal discharge planning, inadequate follow-up, and poor social support. Patient support in the form of activation, counseling, and caregiver education has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with HF. A multidisciplinary meeting with experts from different countries across the MEA region was convened to identify the current gaps and unmet needs for patient support for HF in the region. The panel provided insights into the real-world challenges in HF patient support and contributed strategic recommendations for optimizing HF care.

Investigating the effect of an online enhanced care program on the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: Enhanced care program for heart failure

Objective

Depression is highly prevalent and associated with increased hospitalisations and mortality among patients with heart failure (HF). This study will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an online wellbeing program for patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in (i) improving emotional and physical wellbeing, and (ii) decreasing healthcare utilisation.

Methods

Two-arm randomised controlled trial. Eligible patients with ADHF will be recruited pre-discharge from two hospitals. Five hundred and seventy participants will be randomised to receive the intervention (online enhanced care program for HF: 'Enhanced HF Care') or usual care. Enhanced HF Care includes health education (11 micro-learning modules) and monitoring of depression and clinical outcomes via fortnightly/monthly surveys for 6 months, with participants offered tailored advice via video email and SMS. Cardiac nurses track real-time patient data from a dashboard and receive automated email alerts when patients report medium- or high-risk levels of depression or clinical symptoms, to action where needed. General practitioners also receive automated alerts if patients report medium- or high-risk survey responses and are encouraged to schedule a patient consultation.

Results

Sixty-five participants enrolled to-date. Co-primary outcomes ('Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire' Emotional and Physical subscales) and healthcare utilisation (secondary outcome) at 1- and 6-month post-recruitment will be compared between treatment arms using linear mixed effects regression models.

Conclusions

This study has the potential to reduce the burden of depression for patients with HF by prioritising urgent mental health needs and clinical symptoms while simultaneously empowering patients with self-care knowledge.

Trial registration

The trial was prospectively registered via the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622001289707. Issue date: 4 October 2022.

Depression, anxiety, and quality of life as predictors of rehospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a severe condition, often co-occurring with depression and anxiety, that strongly affects the quality of life (QoL) in some patients. Conversely, depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with a 2-3 fold increase in mortality risk and were shown to act independently of typical risk factors in CHF progression. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of depression, anxiety, and QoL on the occurrence of rehospitalization within one year after discharge in CHF patients.

METHODS

148 CHF patients were enrolled in a 10-center, prospective, observational study. All patients completed two questionnaires, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Questionnaire Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) at discharge timepoint.

RESULTS

It was found that demographic and clinical characteristics are not associated with rehospitalization. Still, the levels of depression correlated with gender (p ≤ 0.027) and marital status (p ≤ 0.001), while the anxiety values ​​were dependent on the occurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, levels of depression (HADS-Depression) and anxiety (HADS-Anxiety) did not correlate with the risk of rehospitalization. Univariate logistic regression analysis results showed that rehospitalized patients had significantly lower levels of Bodily pain (BP, p = 0.014), Vitality (VT, p = 0.005), Social Functioning (SF, p = 0.007), and General Health (GH, p = 0.002). In the multivariate model, poor GH (OR 0.966, p = 0.005) remained a significant risk factor for rehospitalization, and poor General Health is singled out as the most reliable prognostic parameter for rehospitalization (AUC = 0.665, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results suggest that QoL assessment complements clinical prognostic markers to identify CHF patients at high risk for adverse events.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered under http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01501981, first posted on 30/12/2011), sponsored by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Quantitative analysis of balance function characteristics in older patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Cognitive decline in older adults may affect balance function, but the relationship between the two is not fully understood, especially in the early stages of cognitive impairment. Mild to moderate cognitive impairment can be assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA).

AIM

This study quantitatively analyzed balance function in older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment using computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) testing.

METHODS

248 older patients were divided into a cognitive impaired group (MOCA <26, n = 126) and a normal group (MOCA ≥26, n = 122) based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) Beijing Version. Patients underwent CDP testing, which included the sensory organization test (SOT) and the limits of stability test (LOS).

RESULTS

The cognitive impaired group had significantly lower SOT composite and visual scores, as well as reaction time (RT), movement velocity (MVL), endpoint excursion (EPE), maximum excursion (MXE), and directional control (DCL) of the LOS test. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that RT and MXE were independent factors significantly associated with MOCA, even after adjustment for age and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment may have reduced sensory integration and balance stability limits, mainly manifested as prolonged motor reaction time and shortened maximum movement distance.

Heart Failure in the Elderly: the Role of Biological and Sociocultural Aspects Related to Sex

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Heart failure (HF) entails poor prognosis, with high morbidity and mortality burden, particularly in elderly patients. Notably, important sex differences have been described between men and women with HF. In this regard, some biological and sociocultural aspects related to sex may play a key role in the different development and prognosis of HF in elderly men and women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Important differences between men and women with HF, especially in the elderly population, have been specifically addressed in recent studies. Consequently, specific differences in biological and sociocultural aspects have been found to associate differences in pathophysiology, baseline clinical profile, and prognosis according to sex. Moreover, differences in comorbidities and frailty and other geriatric conditions, frequent in elderly population with HF, have also been described. Biological and sociocultural differences related to sex are key in the different clinical presentation and prognosis of heart failure in elderly women. Further studies will be required to better understand some other underlying reasons that may differently impact prognosis in elderly patients with HF.

Trends in heart failure between 2016 and 2022 in Türkiye (TRends-HF): a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 85 million individuals across entire population of all ages

Background

Data on the burden of heart failure (HF) outside western countries are limited, but available data suggest it may present differently in other countries. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, prevalence, and survival rates of HF in Türkiye, with a specific focus on how these rates vary according to age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

We harnessed the extensive National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health, covering Turkey's entire population from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022, to identify 2,722,151 cases of HF and their associated comorbidities using ICD-10 codes. Analyzing the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality, our study utilized anonymized data to examine patient demographics, comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and survival patterns, employing statistical techniques to delve into relationships and trends. The data were segmented by gender, socioeconomic status, and age, involving cross-tabulations and statistical metrics to explore connections, odds ratios, and survival rates.

Findings

The estimated prevalence of HF was 2.114% in Türkiye at the end of 2022, with an annual incidence ranging between 3.00 and 6.06 per 1000 person years. Females were older than males (69.8 ± 13.9 years vs. 66.8 ± 13.9 years, respectively). The most common comorbidities were congenital heart diseases and anemia under the age of 20, and hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the adult population. Only 23.6% (643,159/2,722,151) of patients were treated with any triple guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and 3.6% (96,751/2,722,151) of patients were on quadruple GDMT. The survival rates for patients with HF at 1, 5, and 7 years were 83.3% (95% CI: 83.2-83.3), 61.5% (95% CI: 61.4-61.6), and 57.7% (95% CI: 57.6-57.8) among females, and 82.1% (95% CI: 82.0-82.2), 58.2% (95% CI: 58.1-58.3), and 54.2% (95% CI: 54.0-54.3) among males. Despite a tendency for an increase from the highest to the lowest SES, the prevalence of HF and mortality were paradoxically lowest in the lowest SES region.

Interpretation

The prevalence, incidence, and survival rates of HF in Türkiye were comparable to western countries, despite the notable difference of HF onset occurring 8-10 years earlier in the Turkish population. Drug usage statistics indicate there is a need for effective strategies to improve treatment with GDMT.

Funding

None.

Effects of early mental state changes on physical functions in elderly patients with a history of falls

BACKGROUND

Fear of falling is a potential consequence for older adults who have experienced a fall. Whether such psychological concerns related to falls, in turn, affect physical function? Especially those who have a history of falling but have not been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or both. This study aimed to clarify the effects of early psychological changes on the physical function of older patients.

METHODS

The 111 participants with falling history were divided into the poor physical function (PPF) group with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) ≤ 9 and the good physical function (GPF) group with SPPB > 9. Their physical function was assessed through 4-m gait speed (4MGS), five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST), grip strength, and Timed Up and Go tests TUGT. Their mental state was assessed by the self-rating anxiety/depression scale (SAS/SDS).

RESULTS

(1) SAS/SDS scores were negatively correlated with the SPPB score, gait speed, and maximum grip strength (males). (2) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the SPPB score was subject to such independent influence factors: cerebrovascular disease (OR = 11.805; P = 0.005), normal ratio of grip strength (OR = 0.046; P = 0.016), TUGT (OR = 1.717; P < 0.001), and SDS score (OR = 1.154; P = 0.008). (3) The area under the ROC curve was 0.699 (0.601, 0.797) for SAS score, with a sensitivity of 0.776 and a specificity of 0.547; the AUC was 0.694 (0.596, 0.792) for SDS score, with a sensitivity of 0.586 and a specificity of 0.755.

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults with a history of falls without a diagnosis of anxiety or depression, higher SAS/SDS scores were associated with worse fall-related physical function, and there was a statistically significant correlation between the two. This may indicate a risk of falling again in the future.

Clinical Use of Oral Opioid Therapy for Dyspnea in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure - A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background: For patients with advanced heart failure, palliative care, including opioids, is needed as a treatment for refractory dyspnea. However, little evidence has been reported on the efficacy and safety of opioids, and their use is not well established. Methods and Results: We have introduced a protocol for the use of opioids for dyspnea in patients with advanced heart failure admitted to Saitama Citizens Medical Center. Following this protocol, differences in clinical variables and outcome were investigated between patients in whom opioids were initiated intravenously or subcutaneously (i.v./s.c. group; n=13) and patients in whom they were initiated orally (oral group; n=18). In a comparison of baseline characteristics, significantly more patients in the oral group had a history of hospitalization for heart failure within the past year, and significantly more patients were treated with dobutamine and tolvaptan. After initiation of opioid treatment, both groups showed improvement in dyspnea; however, serial changes in vital signs were significantly greater in the i.v./s.c. group. The survival rate was significantly higher in the oral group (P<0.0001), with 33% of patients discharged alive. Conclusions: The clinical use of oral opioids using a single-center protocol is reported, suggesting that oral opioids may be practical and effective for dyspnea in patients with advanced heart failure.

An overview of chronic heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is a significant public health concern. Globally, the prevalence of HF is increasing and prognosis remains suboptimal for people with the condition. HF has significant effects on patients, their families and healthcare services. People with HF can present with acute or chronic signs and symptoms. This article provides an overview of HF including its prevalence, pathophysiology, causes, diagnosis and management. It details the pharmacological treatments that may be used and the nurse's role in caring for patients with the condition.

Longitudinal association between N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide, anxiety and social support in patients with HFpEF: results from the multicentre randomized controlled Aldo-DHF trial

BACKGROUND

Higher plasma levels of natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been associated with reduced anxiety in experimental research and a number of patient samples. As NP levels are elevated in heart failure patients, we investigate whether this elevation is related to anxiety in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

METHODS

Post-hoc regression and mediation analyses were conducted, using data of 422 patients with HFpEF from the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, two-armed, multicentre aldosterone in diastolic heart failure trial, testing associations and their mediators between the N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and anxiety at baseline and over 12-month follow-up. Anxiety was measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), social support by the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory and physical functioning by the Short Form 36 Health Survey.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 66.8 ± 7.6 years, 47.6% were male and 86.0% had NYHA class II. NT-proBNP showed a weak negative correlation with HADS anxiety scores at baseline (r = - 0.087; p = 0.092), which was significant (r = - 0.165; p = 0.028) in men but not in women. NT-proBNP also tended to predict lower anxiety at 12-months in men. On the other hand, higher anxiety at baseline was associated with lower NT-proBNP scores 12 months later (r = - 0.116; p = 0.026). All associations lost significance in multivariate regression for age, perceived social support (ESSI), physical function (SF-36) and study arm. Mediation analyses revealed that social support acts as a full mediator for the link between NT-proBNP levels and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The mechanisms linking NT-proBNP to anxiety may be more complex than originally assumed. While effects of NT-proBNP on anxiety may be mediated by perceived social support, there may be an additional negative effect of anxiety on NT-proBNP. Future research should consider this possible bi-directionality of the association and assess the potential influence of gender, social support, oxytocin and vagal tone on the interaction of anxiety and natriuretic peptide levels. Trial Registration http://www.controlled-trials.com  (ISRCTN94726526) on 07/11/2006. Eudra-CT-number: 2006-002,605-31.

App-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Psychological Outcomes in Pretransplant Patients With Heart Failure

Background

Patients hospitalized with life-threatening conditions experience psychological stressors that can lead to anxiety and poor patient outcomes. Mindfulness stress reduction interventions have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety with sustained effect.

Local Problem

In a single center’s cardiac care units, only pharmacological stress reduction options were embedded in the daily care plan.

Methods

This project evaluated the feasibility and effect of a brief mindfulness intervention on stress, anxiety, and resilience in 20 hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure awaiting transplant. A 1-group, pretest-posttest design over a 4-week period was used. The intervention included a one-on-one mindfulness education session and a 12-minute audio-guided tablet computer app for daily self-practice. Outcome variables measured at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after implementation included stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder instrument), and resilience (10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance with Friedman tests, Bonferroni post hoc tests, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests.

Results

Significant reductions in stress and anxiety and increase in resilience occurred from baseline to 2 weeks and 4 weeks after intervention (all P = .001). Feasibility and acceptability were evident from patient experience survey data and focused interview responses.

Conclusions

A brief mindfulness intervention holds promise for improving stress, anxiety, and resilience for patients with advanced heart failure awaiting transplant. Nurse-led stress reduction interventions are imperative for best patient outcomes. An evidence-based intervention of mindfulness practice embedded into daily usual patient care may be a feasible option.

Health care providers' perspectives on providing end-of-life psychiatric care in cardiology and oncology hospitals: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND

Psychological distress is a major concern for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). However, psychiatric care for patients with HF is not as organized as that for patients with cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate and compare the barriers faced by health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in providing end-of-life psychiatric care to patients with HF and cancer, respectively.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among the health care providers of Japan. Questionnaires were mailed to physicians and nurses of 427 cardiology and 347 oncology hospitals in March 2018 to assess health care providers' perspectives. First, we compared the scores of the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale and the original scale of end-of-life psychiatric care difficulties between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals. Second, we asked the health care providers to describe the barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care with an open-ended question and then compared the freely-provided descriptions using content analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 213 cardiology and 224 oncology health care providers responded to the questionnaire. No significant differences were found between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in the frequency of experiencing barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care (59.8% and 62.2%, respectively). A content analysis identified the following eight barriers: "patients' personal problems," "family members' problems," "professionals' personal problems," "communication problems between professionals and patients," "problems specific to end-of-life care," "problems specific to psychiatric care," "problems of institution or system," and "problems specific to non-cancer patients." The "problems specific to noncancer patients" was described more frequently by health care providers in cardiology hospitals than that in oncology hospitals. However, there were no significant differences in other items between the two.

CONCLUSION

Although health care providers of both cardiology and oncology hospitals faced barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care, those of cardiology hospitals particularly faced challenges pertaining to non-cancer patients, such as unpredictability of prognosis or insufficiency of guideline development. A system of psychiatric care, specifically for patients with HF, should be established.

A meta-review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on outcomes of psychosocial interventions in heart failure

Introduction

Chronic heart failure is a severe condition that influences not just the physical dimension but also the mental dimension in patients. Comorbidity of depression and anxiety are prevalent and the quality of life is reduced. Despite the psychological impact there are no recommendations in the guidelines for psychosocial interventions for people with heart failure. The aim of this meta-review is to synthesize results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the outcomes of psychosocial interventions in heart failure.

Methods

Searches were conducted in PubMed, PsychInfo, Cinahl and the Cochrane Library. In total, seven articles were included after screening 259 studies for eligibility.

Results

The included reviews had, in total, 67 original studies included. The measured outcomes in the systematic reviews and meta-analyses were; depression, anxiety, quality of life, hospitalization, mortality, self-care and physical capacity. The results are inconsistent but show some short-term benefit of psychosocial interventions for reduced depression and anxiety and improved quality of life. However, the long-term effects were sparsely followed up.

Discussion

This meta-review appears to be the first in the field of the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in chronic heart failure. This meta-review identifies gaps in the current available evidence that need to be further explored, such as booster sessions, longer follow-up time for evaluation and incorporating clinical outcomes and measures of stress processes.

Citalopram in the treatment of elderly chronic heart failure combined with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Depression is an independent factor to predict the hospitalization and mortality in the chronic HF patients. Citalopram is known as an effective drug for depression treatment. Currently, there is no specific recommendation in the HF guidelines for the treatment of psychological comorbidity. In recent years, many studies have shown that the citalopram may be safe in treating of chronic HF with depression.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the citalopram in the treatment of elderly chronic HF combined with depression.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang were searched from their inception to May 2022. In the treatment of elderly chronic HF combined with depression, randomized controlled studies of the citalopram were included. Independent screening and extraction of data information were conducted by two researchers, and the quality was assessed by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. Review manager 5.4.1 was employed for statistical analysis.

Results

The results of meta-analysis prove that the citalopram treatment for depressed patients with chronic HF has a benefit for HAMD-24 (MD: -8.51, 95% CI: -10.15 to -6.88) and LVEF (MD: 2.42, 95% CI: 0.51 to 4.33). Moreover, the score of GDS decreases, and NT-proBNP (MD: -537.78, 95% CI: -718.03 to -357.54) is improved. However, the comparison with the control group indicates that there is no good effect on HAMD-17 (MD: -5.14, 95% CI: -11.60 to 1.32), MADRS (MD: -1.57, 95% CI: -3.47 to 0.32) and LVEDD (MD: -1.45, 95% CI: -3.65 to -0.76). No obvious adverse drug reactions were observed.

Conclusion

Citalopram treatment for depressed patients with chronic HF has a positive effect on LVEF and NT-proBNP. It can alleviate HAMD-24 and GDS, but the relative benefits for LVEDD, HAMD-17 and MADRS still need to be verified.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO [CRD42021289917].

Initial assessment of the feasibility and efficacy of a scalable digital CBT for generalized anxiety and associated health behaviors in a cardiovascular disease population

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a significant yet modifiable risk factor for worse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. The treatment of GAD in an accessible manner represents an unmet need in CVD, given that patients with CVD experience numerous barriers to in-person treatment engagement. This paper presents the rationale and design for an investigation of a strategy to enhance care for patients with CVD by introducing a scalable, affordable, and system-friendly digital intervention that targets a prominent modifiable risk factor (generalized anxiety and associated worry) for negative health behaviors in CVD. In the context of a randomized clinical trial design, we describe an experimental medicine approach for evaluating the degree to which a digital cognitive behavior therapy (dCBT), relative to a waitlist control group, engages anxiety and worry outcomes in a sample of 90 adults who have experienced an acute CVD event and who have comorbid GAD symptoms. We also investigate the degree to which dCBT leads to greater changes in GAD symptoms compared to the control condition and whether reductions in these symptoms are associated with corresponding reductions in cardiac anxiety and cardiac health behaviors (including smoking, physical activity, heart-healthy diet, and medication adherence). We propose that by targeting GAD symptoms in CVD in a way that does not tax ongoing medical care provision, we have the potential to improve the uptake of effective care and address both GAD and associated health behaviors.

Association between statins and the risk of suicide attempt, depression, anxiety, and seizure: A population-based, self-controlled case series study

BACKGROUND

Risk of suicide attempt, depression, anxiety and seizure and the association with statins is an ongoing debate. We aim to investigate the association between statins and the above neuropsychological outcomes, in specific pre- and post-exposure time windows.

METHODS

We identified patients aged 40-75 years old who were dispensed a statin between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 from the Hong Kong Clinical Data Analysis & Reporting System (CDARS), an electronic medical records database. Patients with new onset of suicide attempt, depression, anxiety and seizure were derived from the original dataset separately, in a self-controlled case series study design. A non-parametric spline-based self-controlled case series model was built to measure continuous changes of risk.

RESULTS

We identified 396,614 statin users. The risk of each outcome was elevated prior to statin initiation with incidence rate ratios of 1.38 (95 % CI, 1.09-1.74) for suicide attempt, 1.29 (95 % CI, 1.15-1.45) for depression, 1.35 (95 % CI, 1.19-1.53) for anxiety, and 1.45 (95 % CI, 1.21-1.73) for seizure. The incidence rate ratios remained elevated after the initiation of statins during the first 90 and 91-365 days after statin prescription and decreased to the baseline level after 1 year of continuous prescription.

LIMITATIONS

CDARS includes prescription data but not adherence data, which could lead to misclassification of exposure periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study does not support a direct association between statin use and suicide attempt, depression, anxiety and seizure, whose risks could be explained by cardiovascular events, for which statins were prescribed.

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with ostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with ostomy is reported differently. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the global prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with ostomy.

METHOD

A systematic search of Embase, Proquest, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science (ISI) databases was conducted from January 1990 up to 5 May 2021. A total of 3392 records were retrieved and 18 studies were ultimately included. Two reviewers independently assessed full-text of articles according to predefined criteria. A random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression and I² index was used to assess the heterogeneity of the studies. Subgroup analysis and mea-regression were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO and is available online. Data analysis was performed using R software version 4.3.1.

RESULTS

In this study, the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 47.60% (95% CI, 29.94-65.26) and the pooled prevalence of depression was 38.86% (95% CI, 29.29-48.43). The subgroup analysis showed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in different regions was not significantly different (p = 0.854, p = 0.143 respectively). Nevertheless, the highest and lowest prevalence of anxiety were in Asia and the America 51.79% and 32.69%, respectively and the highest and lowest prevalence depression were in Asia with 49.80% and Europe with 26.77%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The finding of this study showed the global prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with ostomy is high. Therefore, all health care providers who deal with these patients should use appropriate psychological strategies, techniques and interventions to reduce anxiety and depression in these patients.

Factors Associated With Depression and Anxiety for Community-Dwelling Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are common comorbidities in heart failure (HF) and are associated with adverse outcomes including unplanned hospitalization. However, there is insufficient evidence on the factors associated with depression and anxiety for community patients with HF to inform optimal assessment and treatment in this population.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with depression and anxiety in community-dwelling patients with HF.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 302 adult patients given a diagnosis of HF referred to United Kingdom's largest specialist cardiac rehabilitation center, from June 2013 to November 2020. Main study outcomes were symptoms of depression using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and anxiety using the General Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale. Explanatory variables included demographic and clinical characteristics and functional status from the Dartmouth COOP questionnaire: quality of life, pain, level of social activity and daily activities, and being bothered by emotional problems (feelings). Logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the association between demographic and clinical characteristics and depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

Of the sample, 26.2% reported depression and 20.2% had anxiety. Higher depression and anxiety were associated with difficulty in performing daily activities (95% confidence interval, 1.11-6.46 and 1.13-8.09, respectively) and being bothered by feelings (95% confidence interval, 4.06-21.77 and 4.25-22.46, respectively). Depression was associated with limitations in social activity (95% confidence interval, 1.06-6.34) and anxiety with distressing pain (95% confidence interval, 1.38-7.23).

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate the importance of psychosocial interventions for patients with HF to minimize and manage depression and anxiety. Patients with HF may benefit from interventions targeted to maintain independence, promote participation in social activities, and optimally manage pain.

Benzodiazepines in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND

In patients with heart failure (HF), anxiety or insomnia is prevalent and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are one of the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety or insomnia in Taiwan. Evidence regarding the effects of BZDs on patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is inconclusive.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether BZDs can mitigate the adverse effects of anxiety or insomnia on the prognosis of patients with HFrEF.

METHODS

Patients with HFrEF were identified from the Chang Gung Research Database between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2018. Those who received BZD prescriptions were defined as the BZD group; patients in the BZD group were then paired with those who had never been prescribed BZDs after matching for age, sex, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction, defined as the no-BZD group. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics. Cox proportional hazards model and the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model were used to examine the association between BZD prescription and the risks of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, there were 1,941 patients in both BZD and no-BZD groups. The composite of cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization (HFH) occurred in 64.4% and 54.4% of the patients in the BZD and no-BZD groups, respectively [hazard ratio (HR): 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-1.56], which was mainly driven by HFH (HR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.39-1.67).

CONCLUSIONS

In the patients with HFrEF, those who received BZD were at a higher overall risk of CV death and HFH.

Anxiety in heart failure patients and its association with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics: a cross-sectional study

Anxiety is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders in heart failure (HF) patients. However, it is often neglected in clinical practice and studies about the particular relationship with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes for HF are scarce. In this context, this study aims to analyze the presence of anxiety symptoms in HF outpatients and also its association with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of these patients.

Factors associated with psychological resilience in patients with chronic heart failure and efficacy of psycho-cardiology intervention

OBJECTIVE

To explore the value of psycho-cardiology intervention on psychological resilience in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and investigate the associated factors.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 142 patients with CHF was carried out. These patients were admitted to the Department of Cardiology, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University from January 2017 to January 2021. They were grouped according to intervention method, including 74 patients with psycho-cardiology intervention and 68 with conventional intervention. The psychological resilience and the levels of anxiety and depression before and after intervention were assessed with the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS), respectively. The factors associated with psychological resilience in patients with CHF were observed. The relationship between psychological resilience and SAS scores before intervention was studied.

RESULTS

Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that age (OR (95% CI): 3.452 (0.862-4.872), P=0.015), gender (OR, (95% CI): 3.389 (0.872-5.023), P=0.035), SAS score (OR (95% CI) 5.433 (1.543-14.333), P=0.027) and SDS score (OR (95% CI): 5.654 (1.572-15.823), P=0.021) were factors associated with psychological resilience in patients with CHF (all P<0.05). The average CD-RISC scores were 56.55±8.89 points in patients with CHF. The psychological resilience was inversely correlated with SAS score (r=-0.450, P<0.001) and SDS scores (r=-0.401, P<0.001). The CD-RISC scores of the observation group after intervention were higher than before intervention and higher than the control group, while SAS and SDS scores were decreased (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Age, gender, SAS, and SDS scores are factors associated with psychological resilience in patients with CHF. Psychological resilience was inversely associated with both anxiety and depression. Psycho-cardiology intervention can improve patients' psychological resilience, and reduce their anxiety and depression.

Anxiety Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the prevalent inherited cardiomyopathy and a major contributor to sudden death and heart failure in young adults. Although depression has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease, the relationship between anxiety and HCM clinical outcomes has not been addressed. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in patients with HCM and the association between anxiety and adverse prognosis in this population.

Methods

A total of 793 patients with HCM were prospectively enrolled and followed up for a mean of 4.1 years from March 2014 to January 2018. The primary endpoint was sudden cardiac death (SCD) events, and the secondary endpoint was HCM-related heart failure events. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during outpatient visits or hospital stays.

Results

Elevated scores on the HADS anxiety subscale (HADS-A ≥ 8) were defined as clinically significant anxiety. SCD and HCM-related heart failure events occurred in 76 and 149 patients, respectively, during the follow-up period. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated the significant association of anxiety with SCD events (log-rank P = 0.012) and HCM-related heart failure events (log-rank P = 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed anxiety as a predictor of SCD events and HCM-related heart failure events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–2.04, P = 0.03; adjusted HR = 2.9,2 95% CI = 1.73–4.03, P &lt; 0.001), independent of conventional risk factors and depression. Besides, patients with comorbid anxiety and depression showed a fourfold higher risk of heart failure events and 3.5-fold higher risk of SCD versus those with neither (adjusted HR = 4.08, 95% CI = 2.76–5.91, P &lt; 0.001; adjusted HR = 3.52, 95% CI = 2.24–4.67, P &lt; 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Anxiety was prevalent among Chinese patients with HCM, and it was independently associated with a higher risk of SCD and HCM-related heart failure events, particularly when comorbid with depression. Psychological assessment and intervention should be considered to alleviate anxiety symptoms in this population.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2000040759.

Association between Early Mobilization in the ICU and Psychiatric Symptoms after Surviving a Critical Illness: A Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study

This is a prospective multicenter cohort study aiming to investigate the association between early mobilization (EM), defined as a rehabilitation level of sitting at the edge of the bed or higher within 72 h of ICU admission, and psychiatric outcome. Consecutive patients, admitted to the ICU for more than 48 h, were enrolled. The primary outcome was the incidence of psychiatric symptoms at 3 months after hospital discharge defined as the presence of any of three symptoms: depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Risk ratio (RR) and multiple logistic regression analysis were used. As a sensitivity analysis, two methods for inverse probability of treatment weighting statistics were performed. Of the 192 discharged patients, 99 (52%) were assessed. The patients who achieved EM had a lower incidence of psychiatric symptoms compared to those who did not (25% vs. 51%, p-value 0.008, odds ratio (OR) 0.27, adjusted p = 0.032). The RR for psychiatric symptoms in the EM group was 0.49 [95% Confidence Interval, 0.29–0.83]. Sensitivity analysis accounting for the influence of death, loss to follow-up (OR 0.28, adjusted p = 0.008), or potential confounders (OR 0.49, adjusted p = 0.046) consistently showed a lower incidence of psychiatric symptoms in the EM group. EM was consistently associated with fewer psychiatric symptoms.

Autonomic Neural Circuit and Intervention for Comorbidity Anxiety and Cardiovascular Disease

Anxiety disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disease and imposes a significant influence on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous evidence support that anxiety contributes to the onset and progression of various CVDs through different physiological and behavioral mechanisms. However, the exact role of nuclei and the association between the neural circuit and anxiety disorder in CVD remains unknown. Several anxiety-related nuclei, including that of the amygdala, hippocampus, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and medial prefrontal cortex, along with the relevant neural circuit are crucial in CVD. A strong connection between these nuclei and the autonomic nervous system has been proven. Therefore, anxiety may influence CVD through these autonomic neural circuits consisting of anxiety-related nuclei and the autonomic nervous system. Neuromodulation, which can offer targeted intervention on these nuclei, may promote the development of treatment for comorbidities of CVD and anxiety disorders. The present review focuses on the association between anxiety-relevant nuclei and CVD, as well as discusses several non-invasive neuromodulations which may treat anxiety and CVD.

Efficacy of a Digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for the Improvement of Self-management Behaviors and Psychological Flexibility in Adults With Cardiac Disease: Protocol for a Single Case Experimental Design

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that the management of distress levels in those with cardiac disease is not only important for improving quality of life and functioning but also critical for condition management; adherence to treatment; and, ultimately, disease prognosis and progression. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has consistently demonstrated positive long-term outcomes across a wide array of conditions, including chronic illness. However, most empirical investigations conducted to date have also involved in-person therapy, which can be difficult to access, particularly for those dealing with the demands of chronic disease.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our research is to evaluate a digital ACT intervention for improving self-management behaviors and distress levels in those with cardiac conditions.

METHODS

The digital ACT intervention will be delivered via a digital health self-management platform over 6 sessions. This will involve a randomized, multiple baseline, single case experimental design with approximately 3 to 15 adults with cardiac disease. The independent variable for each participant will be the pre-post intervention phase. The dependent variables will be a daily self-report measure of psychological flexibility as well as objective measures of condition self-management (eg, blood pressure readings) and engagement with the app (eg, completing guided mindfulness). One-to-one qualitative interviews will also be conducted to further examine participants' experiences with using the intervention and what factors contribute to or impede successful outcomes.

RESULTS

Participant recruitment and data collection began in October 2021, and it is projected that the study findings will be available for dissemination by spring 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings will be discussed in terms of how a digital ACT intervention can best meet the needs of cardiac patients.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/33783.

Spirituality in Patients With Heart Failure

With advances in heart failure (HF) treatment, patients are living longer, putting further emphasis on quality of life (QOL) and the role of palliative care principles in their care. Spirituality is a core domain of palliative care, best defined as a dynamic, multidimensional aspect of oneself for which 1 dimension is that of finding meaning and purpose. There are substantial data describing the role of spirituality in patients with cancer but a relative paucity of studies in HF. In this review article, we explore the current knowledge of spirituality in patients with HF; describe associations among spirituality, QOL, and HF outcomes; and propose clinical applications and future directions regarding spiritual care in this population. Studies suggest that spirituality serves as a potential target for palliative care interventions to improve QOL, caregiver support, and patient outcomes including rehospitalization and mortality. We suggest the development of a spirituality-screening tool, similar to the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 used to screen for depression, to identify patients with HF at risk for spiritual distress. Novel tools are soon to be validated by members of our group. Given spirituality in HF remains less well studied compared with other patient populations, further controlled trials and uniform measures of spirituality are needed to understand its impact better.

Early Detection of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Definition of Psychosocial Profile in Women Through a Systematic Approach: The Monzino Women Heart Center's Experience

Introduction

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading mortality cause among women, yet an alarming misrepresentation of women in CV studies and a low awareness of the impact of CV among women still persist to date. The Monzino Women Heart Center has been established as a clinical and research program dedicated to primary prevention of CV disease in women.

Methods

Patients aged between 35 and 60 years and with no history of CV disease underwent a comprehensive evaluation including a cardiologic outpatient visit with electrocardiogram, individual CV risk calculation, first-level cardiovascular examinations and a psychological assessment.

Results

A total of 635 women, with a mean age of 52.2 ± 6.4 participated to the project on a voluntary basis during the period January 2017–August 2021. Included patients had a high level of education (40.4% with a graduate or postgraduate university degree), the majority of them, in a stable couple and with children, were actively working. More than half of the patients performed physical activity on a regular basis. Prevalence of traditional CV risk factors were family history (70.2%), hypertension (46%), hypercholesterolemia (22%) and diabetes (14%). Early or premature menopause was reported by 17.7% of the patients, gestational hypertension and diabetes by 4.96 and 1.7%, respectively. Symptoms of depression were reported by 27%; nearly 36% of the participants rated high score of state anxiety and 41% of trait anxiety. Nearly 69% of the participants showed moderate-to-high perceived stress. The mean value of perceived general self-efficacy was moderate (mean = 28.78, SD = 4.69).

Conclusion

A CV prevention program dedicated to women can help identifying a considerable number of patients with risk factors for whom early interventions can help reducing the risk of developing CV disease. Psychological assessment might unmask depression or anxiety disorders, which might have a potential long-terme detrimental effect on CV health.

Prevalence of Moderate to Severe Anxiety Symptoms among Patients with Myocardial Infarction: a Meta-Analysis

This study attempted to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms among myocardial infarction (MI) patients to offer a reliable and accurate estimate on the number of MI patients suffering from moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Comprehensive electronic searches (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) were performed from their inception to February 2021. Between-study heterogeneity was analyzed using the Cochran's Q test and [Formula: see text] statistic, and if it was high across the eligible studies, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias and the robustness of the pooled results were also examined. A total of 18 eligible studies covering 8,532 MI patients were included, of which 3,443 were identified with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Between-study heterogeneity was high ([Formula: see text]=98.8%) with the reported prevalence ranging from 9.6% to 69.17%, and the pooled prevalence was 38.08% (95% confidence interval: 28.82-47.81%) by a random-effects model. Meta-regression analyses indicated that publication year (β = -0.014) was significant moderators contributing 16.11% to the heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses indicated that studies using the anxiety subscale of Brief Symptom Inventory to assess anxiety were homogenous ([Formula: see text]=0.0). Furthermore, the pooled prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms varied significantly by geographic region, instrument used to assess anxiety, methodological quality, sex, education level, a history of previous MI and hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, the results of Egger's linear test (t = -0.630) and Begg's rank test (z = -0.190) indicated no evidence of publication bias, and the sensitivity of the pooled results was low. Nearly two fifth of MI patients suffered from moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, which emphasizes the importance of early identification of anxiety symptoms after MI, as well as the need of implementing psychological interventions for those with elevated anxiety symptoms.

Investigating the needs and concerns of older adults with multimorbidity and their healthcare professionals for conceivable digital psychotherapeutic interventions

Multimorbidity, defined as the concurrent experience of more than one chronic health condition in an individual, affects ∼65% of people over 65 and 85% of those over 85 years old with 30% of those also experiencing mental health concerns. This can lead to reduced quality of life and functioning as well as poorer outcomes in terms of condition management, adherence to treatment, and ultimately disease prognosis and progression. Digital health interventions offer a viable means of condition self-management, as well as psychological support, particularly for those who may have difficulty accessing in-person services. To best meet the needs of older adults with multimorbidity, deeper insights are needed into their specific concerns and issues around condition management, particularly with regard to distress in relation to managing one's condition. The present study aimed to explore this using one-to-one qualitative interviews and focus groups with people with chronic health conditions and healthcare professionals. Participants were 11 older adults with multimorbidity (4 males; mean age: M = 72.7 years) and 14 healthcare professionals including five clinical nurse specialists, four pharmacists, two general practitioners, one occupational therapist, one speech and language therapist and one dietician. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes, which included: patient feelings of anxiety or worry leading to an unwillingness to access essential information; the various mental health challenges faced by those with multimorbidity; the importance of personal values in providing motivation; and the importance of social support. Findings are discussed in relation to the potential development of transdiagnostically applicable digital interventions for the management of distress in those with multimorbidity.

Autonomic symptoms and associated factors in patients with chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVE

Autonomic disorders are common in chronic illness, and their symptoms may restrict the daily functioning of patients. However, in chronic heart failure, extensive knowledge about autonomic symptoms is still lacking. This study aims to explore self-perceived autonomic symptoms, associated factors, and their relationship with health-related quality of life in chronic heart failure.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-four patients with documented chronic heart failure (men and women; 50-86 years) and 124 sex and age-matched controls participated in this study. The participants filled validated questionnaires about autonomic symptom profile (COMPASS 31), fatigue (CIS, Checklist for individual strength), anxiety and depression (HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression), and health-related quality of life (SF36). Non-parametric statistics were performed to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Total score for autonomic symptoms was higher in chronic heart failure compared to controls [Median: 14.9; IQR: 6.2-25.1 vs. 7.3; 0-18; p < 0.001], especially for orthostatic hypotension [Median: 8; IQR: 0-16 vs. 0; 0-12; p < 0.001], vasomotor [Median: 0; IQR: 0-0 vs. 0; 0-0; p < 0.001] and secretomotor function [Median: 0; IQR: 0-4.2 vs. 0; 0-2.1; p = 0.013]. High scores for autonomic symptoms were moderate correlated with higher scores of fatigue, anxiety and depression (0.343 ≤ rs ≥ 0.420; p < 0.001) and with decreased health-related quality of life (-0.454; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Autonomic symptoms, especially for orthostatic intolerance, vasomotor and secretomotor subdomains, are prevalent and are associated with fatigue complaints and poor health-related quality of life in CHF.

Association between anxiety and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure after implantation of cardiac electronic devices

OBJECTIVE

Several studies suggest that psychological factors including anxiety are associated with negative outcomes and in particular higher mortality rates among heart failure (HF) patients. However, the impact of anxiety on mortality in patients with implanted cardiac devices has not been fully appreciated. The aim of this study was to assess the association between state (SA) and trait (TA) anxiety and all-cause mortality in patients with HF after cardiac electronic devices implantation.

METHODS

The monocentric prospective study enrolled 265 patients (215 men and 50 women) aged 23 to 84 years (mean age 57.1 ± 10.0), who received cardiac resynchronization therapy or cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Mean duration of prospective follow-up was 62.3 ± 36.6 months. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure anxiety symptoms. Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS

During the prospective follow-up period, 45 (17.0%) patients died due to all causes. According to quantitative analysis, HR for death used for SA scale was 1.04 (95% CI 1.00-1.07, p = 0.07) and for the TA scale 1.02 (95% CI 0.99-1.05, p = 0.21). Analysis of categorical indicators found statistically significant higher HR of mortality in patients with severe SA (2.35, 95% CI 1.17-4.71, p = 0.02), and TA (2.02, 95% CI 1.04-3.94, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

High levels of SA and TA was significantly and independently associated with a high risk of all-cause mortality in patients, who underwent implantation of cardiac electronic devices.

Exploring the use of psychotropic medication in cardiac patients with and without anxiety and its association with 1-year mortality

AIMS

Comorbid psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medication are common among cardiac patients and have been found to increase the risk of mortality. The aims of this study were: (i) to describe the use of psychotropic medication among cardiac patients with and without symptoms of anxiety, (ii) to estimate the association between use of psychotropic medication prior to hospital admission and all-cause, 1-year mortality following discharge, and (iii) to estimate the risk of mortality among users and non-users of psychotropic medication with or without self-reported symptoms of anxiety.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cardiac patients from the DenHeart survey were included, providing information on self-reported symptoms of anxiety. From national registers, information on the use of psychotropic medication 6 months prior to hospitalization and mortality was obtained. By logistic regression analyses, the association between the use of psychotropic medication, anxiety, and all-cause, 1-year mortality was estimated. The risk of subsequent incident use of psychotropic medication among patients with and without anxiety was furthermore explored. All analyses were fully adjusted. A total of 12 913 patients were included, of whom 18% used psychotropic medication, and 3% died within 1 year. The use of psychotropic medication was found to be associated with increased 1-year all-cause mortality [odds ratio 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 1.46-2.46)]. Patients with symptoms of anxiety were significantly more likely to use psychotropic medication following hospital discharge [2.47 (2.25-2.72)].

CONCLUSION

The use of psychotropic medication was associated with 1-year mortality. Thus, the use of psychotropic medication might explain some of the association between anxiety and mortality; however, the association is probably mainly a reflection of the underlying mental illness, rather than the use of psychotropic medication.

Tai Chi for anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer, stroke, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Many middle-aged and older adults have more than one chronic health condition. It is therefore important to explore the effectiveness of interventions for multiple chronic conditions. Tai Chi is widely used in China and other countries, and many studies have examined the effect of Tai Chi on anxiety and depression. However, there are no systematic reviews of the effect of Tai Chi on anxiety and depression in various chronic conditions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi on anxiety and depression symptoms in four chronic conditions: cancer, stroke, heart failure (HF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

We searched Chinese and English databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, and Sinomed) from inception to October 2020. Review Manager version 5.2 and Stata version 12.0 were used to perform a systematic review. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The study was registered with the PROSPERO database (number CRD42020209594).

RESULTS

Of the 596 studies identified, we included 25 randomized controlled trials involving 1819 participants. Combined analysis of the four diseases showed statistically significant differences between the Tai Chi and control groups for anxiety symptoms (SMD -0.99, 95%CI: -1.5, -0.47; P < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (SMD 0.70, 95%CI: -1.01, -0.39; P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed statistically significant differences between the Tai Chi and control groups for depressive symptoms in stroke (SMD -0.43, 95%CI: -0.67, -0.18; P < 0.01) and HF (SMD -0.57, 95%CI: -0.8, -0.33; P < 0.01). However, no statistically significant differences were found for depressive symptoms in COPD or cancer. There were statistically significant differences between the Tai Chi and control groups for anxiety symptoms in stroke (SMD -0.60, 95%CI: -0.88, -0.32; P < 0.01) and cancer (SMD -0.69, 95%CI: -1.22, -0.17; P < 0.01), but not in COPD or HF. Subgroup, sensitivity, meta regression, and publication bias analyses showed high heterogeneity correlated with a single study and study quality. Sensitivity analysis showed that most meta-analysis results had good stability, but those for anxiety symptoms in COPD were unstable; therefore, careful interpretation is required.

CONCLUSION

Tai Chi has a positive effect on anxiety and depression, especially for patients with cancer, stroke, and HF. However, given the weak evidence, this approach is not a substitute for psychiatric treatment.

Effectiveness of technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this review were to identify different technology-assisted interventions in cardiac rehabilitation, to explore and examine the effectiveness of technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed on six electronic databases: CINALH Complete, Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE via OvidSP, British Nursing Index and PsycINFO to identify randomised controlled trials from 2010 to 2020. Selection of studies was performed by screening the titles, abstracts and full texts, and two reviewers independently and critically appraised the included studies using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2).

RESULTS

Nine randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria; five studies with some bias concerns related to allocation concealment (n = 2) and measurement of outcome (n = 4), and four studies were of low risk of bias. The pooled effect size showed comparable effectiveness between technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation and conventional/centre-based cardiac rehabilitation on modifiable coronary risk factors (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, p>0.05), psychological outcomes (anxiety: SMD 0.25, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.62, p = 0.17 and depression: SMD 0.09, 95% CI -0.16 to 0.35, p = 0.47). Narrative synthesis was performed for adherence to prescribed exercise sessions in cardiac rehabilitation. No significant adverse events occurred. The adverse events that did occur were self-reported, mostly unrelated to the interventions with technology and the number of events was comparable between both groups. Inconsistent results were found across the studies. This review revealed lack of self-efficacy and behaviour change theories/strategies, and educational emphasis among studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The results in the meta-analysis have indicated that technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation demonstrated comparable results to conventional/centre-based cardiac rehabilitation. Technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation is a potential alternative not only to remove cardiac rehabilitation barriers but also in the midst of current prolonged pandemic. Future studies on technology-assisted cardiac rehabilitation with the emphasis behavior change theories/strategies and education are required.

Prevalence, Temporal Change, and Determinants of Anxiety and Depression in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and depression may be under-recognized in patients with heart failure (HF). We therefore investigated the prevalence and temporal change of these symptoms in hospitalized patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We prospectively evaluated consecutive hospitalized patients with HF using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on admission and at discharge. The HADS-A (anxiety) and HADS-D (depression) scores were categorized as follows; 0-7, no symptoms; 8-10, mild; and 11-21, significant anxiety or depression. Symptom worsening was defined as the HADS category at discharge being poorer than that on admission. Of 224 patients (mean age 77.5 years), 35 (16%) and 62 (28%) had significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. During hospitalization, the HADS-A significantly decreased (on admission; median 6 [interquartile range (IQR) 3-9] vs at discharge; median 4 [IQR 2-7], P < .01), whereas the HADS-D did not improve (on admission; median 8 [IQR 5-11] vs at discharge; median 8 [IQR 4-11], P =.82). Anxiety and depression worsened during hospitalization in 19 (10%) and 40 (21%) patients, respectively. Advanced age, higher natriuretic peptide levels, and acute-on-chronic HF were associated with worsening anxiety, and longer hospitalization length was associated with worsening depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety and depression were common and depression persisted during HF hospitalization.