Irrational beliefs, depression and anxiety, in relation to 10-year cardiovascular disease risk: the ATTICA Epidemiological Study

Associations between anxious-depression and cognitive change and mild cognitive impairment: HCHS/SOL Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the associations between anxious-depression symptoms with cognitive change and prevalent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos.

METHODS

Participants were enrolled in the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Anxiety and depression were measured at Visit 1 using the 10-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, with latent class analysis applied to derive anxious-depression phenotypes based on items from both scales. Cognitive tests were completed at Visits 1 and 2 (average 7-years follow-up), where change was assessed using a change index between Visit 1 and 2, and function was assessed at Visit 2. Prevalent MCI was assessed using National Institute on Aging diagnostic criteria. Regression models were used to investigate the association of anxious-depression phenotypes with cognitive function, change, and MCI.

RESULTS

In 6140 participants (mean age = 56.5 ± 8.1-years), three anxious-depression profiles were identified: low (62 %), moderate (30 %), and high (8 %). All three profiles were associated with cognitive function at Visit 2, where high and moderate phenotypes were associated with lower cognitive scores compared to low. Moderate and high anxious-depression phenotypes were associated with greater prevalence of MCI compared to low (OR [95 % CI] = 1.64 [1.25; 2.16] and OR = 1.62 [1.12; 2.33], respectively). We found no associations between cognitive change and anxious-depression phenotype.

DISCUSSION

Co-occurring elevated anxiety and depression symptoms were associated with lower cognitive function and increased prevalence MCI 7-years later, but not overall changes in cognitive function between Visit 1 and Visit 2.

2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2025 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2024 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. This year's edition includes a continued focus on health equity across several key domains and enhanced global data that reflect improved methods and incorporation of ≈3000 new data sources since last year's Statistical Update.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Cognitive vulnerability, anxiety, and physical well-being in relation to 10-year cardiovascular disease risk: The ATTICA epidemiological study

This study aimed to evaluate the association between irrational beliefs and the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence among apparently healthy adults. The ATTICA study is a population-based, prospective cohort (2002-2012) consisting of 853 participants without evidence of CVD (453 men and 400 women) who underwent psychological evaluations. Participants completed the Irrational Beliefs Inventory (IBI, range 0-88), a self-reported measure consistent with the Ellis model of psychological disturbance. We conducted a factor analysis to develop irrational beliefs factors to evaluate the association between subcategories of irrational beliefs and CVD incidence. Demographic characteristics, detailed medical history, other psychological factors, and dietary and other lifestyle habits were also evaluated. The incidence of CVD was defined according to the International Coding Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria. The identified dominant irrational beliefs factor, "cognitive vulnerability to anxiety," consisted of demandingness, perfectionism, emotional irresponsibility, anxious overconcern, dependence on others, and overconcern for the welfare of others, was strongly associated with an increased 10-year CVD risk. Nested multi-adjusted regression analysis revealed that anxiety, as well as negative physical well-being, mediated this relationship, and subset of irrational beliefs predicted CVD risk directly and indirectly through anxiety and negative physical well-being. These findings further map the path through which irrational beliefs can contribute to CVDs and provide insights in favor of preventive healthcare.

Association of Serum Interleukin-8 and Serum Amyloid A With Anxiety Symptoms in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a clinical syndrome caused by pathological changes in small vessels. Anxiety is a common symptom of CSVD. Previous studies have reported the association between inflammatory factors and anxiety in other diseases, but this association in patients with CSVD remains uncovered. Our study aimed to investigate whether serum inflammatory factors correlated with anxiety in patients with CSVD.

METHODS

A total of 245 CSVD patients confirmed using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited from December 2019 to December 2021. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) was used to assess the anxiety symptoms of CSVD patients. Patients with HAMA scores ≥7 were considered to have anxiety symptoms. The serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were detected. We compared levels of inflammatory factors between the anxiety and non-anxiety groups. Logistic regression analyses examined the correlation between inflammatory factors and anxiety symptoms. We further performed a gender subgroup analysis to investigate whether this association differed by gender.

RESULTS

In the fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis model, we found that lower levels of IL-8 were linked to a higher risk of anxiety symptoms. Moreover, higher levels of SAA were linked to a lower risk of anxiety symptoms. Our study identified sex-specific effects, and the correlation between IL-8 and anxiety symptoms remained significant among males, while the correlation between SAA and anxiety symptoms remained significant among females.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found a suggestive association between IL-8, SAA, and anxiety symptoms in CSVD participants. Furthermore, IL-8 and SAA may have a sex-specific relationship with anxiety symptoms.