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Anxiety disorders and stressful events in Takotsubo syndrome
Affiliations- IRCCS Fondazione Don C. Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy
- Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Unit, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, piazzale dei servi 3, 43100 parma, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, San Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Piazza del Donatore di Sangue, 3,, 10150 Turin, Italy
- Department of Cardiology, Parma University Hospital,, via gramsci 12, 43100 Parma, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy
open access
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are more common in Takotsubo syndrome (TS) than in acute coronary syndrome patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pre-existing anxiety disorders predispose to TS triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events.
Methods: Triggering events were compared in 58 TS patients with and without pre-existing anxiety disorders; clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were also collected.
Results: Thirty-one (53%) patients had a previous history of anxiety disorders. The exclusively emotional stressful event-rate was higher in TS patients with pre-existing anxiety disorder (74% vs. 30%, p = 0.001), while TS caused by an undetermined trigger were significantly higher in patients without anxiety disorders (33% vs. 10%, p = 0.027). Moreover, in TS patients without a previous history of anxiety disorders, a trend of higher prevalence of physical events was found (16% vs. 37%, p = 0.07).
Conclusions: In patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders, TS was predominantly triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events, thereby suggesting a possible relationship between anxiety and emotional cardiac frailty in TS patients.
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders are more common in Takotsubo syndrome (TS) than in acute coronary syndrome patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pre-existing anxiety disorders predispose to TS triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events.
Methods: Triggering events were compared in 58 TS patients with and without pre-existing anxiety disorders; clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were also collected.
Results: Thirty-one (53%) patients had a previous history of anxiety disorders. The exclusively emotional stressful event-rate was higher in TS patients with pre-existing anxiety disorder (74% vs. 30%, p = 0.001), while TS caused by an undetermined trigger were significantly higher in patients without anxiety disorders (33% vs. 10%, p = 0.027). Moreover, in TS patients without a previous history of anxiety disorders, a trend of higher prevalence of physical events was found (16% vs. 37%, p = 0.07).
Conclusions: In patients with pre-existing anxiety disorders, TS was predominantly triggered by exclusively emotional stressful events, thereby suggesting a possible relationship between anxiety and emotional cardiac frailty in TS patients.
Keywords
Takotsubo syndrome; anxiety disorders; stressful events; stress cardiomyopathy; psychiatric disorders
About this articleTitle
Anxiety disorders and stressful events in Takotsubo syndrome
Journal
Issue
Pages
495-500
Published online
2017-11-17
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3941
Article views/downloads
1965
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2018;25(4):495-500.
Keywords
Takotsubo syndrome
anxiety disorders
stressful events
stress cardiomyopathy
psychiatric disorders
Authors
Davide Lazzeroni
Matteo Bini
Paolo Castiglioni
Luca Moderato
Chiara Ciracì
Umberto Camaiora
Pietro Tito Ugolotti
Lorenzo Brambilla
Valerio Brambilla
Silvia Garibaldi
Letizia Paglialonga
Valentina Ziveri
Fabrizio Ugo
Nicola Gaibazzi
Paolo Coruzzi
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