Anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with coronary heart disease

Background: Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are known etiologic and prognostic risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, few studies have assessed the prevalence of a comprehensive set of anxiety and stress related disorders in CHD. Moreover, it is unclear whether these disorders are associated with CHD symptoms, severity and cardiovascular events and procedures. Methods: We determined the 12-month prevalence of anxiety disorders and PTSD in N = 1024 hospitalized patients with CHD and examined associations with cardiac disease characteristics, cardiovascular events and procedures. Anxiety and PTSD diagnoses were determined with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Socio-demographic variables were assessed with a questionnaire and cardiovascular variables were extracted from medical charts. Results: 12-month prevalence for any anxiety disorder was 11.2% for men and 24.8% for women; 12-month PTSD prevalence was 1.1% and 5.2%, respectively. The most common anxiety disorders were specific phobia (men: 8.2%, women: 18.8%) and agoraphobia and/or panic disorder (combined prevalence men: 2.9%, women: 9.9%). Anxiety disorders were not associated with any cardiovascular variables. Limitations: Due to lack of follow-up data no conclusions regarding stability of diagnoses are possible. Associations of PTSD and medical variables could not be determined because of low PTSD prevalence. Conclusions: Compared to the general population, anxiety disorders were more frequent in younger (