Anxiety Level and Cardiac Autonomic Modulations in Coronary Artery Disease and Cardiac Syndrome X Patients

Risk Factors Predisposing to Angina in Patients with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries: A Retrospective Analysis

No hemodynamically significant atherosclerotic plaques are observed in up to 30% of patients reporting angina and undergoing coronary angiography. To investigate risk factors associated with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD), we analyzed the medical records of, consecutively, 136 NOCAD subjects and 128 patients with significant stenosis in at least one coronary artery (the OCAD group). The blood concentrations of the TC (4.40 [3.78−5.63] mmol/L vs. 4.12 [3.42−5.01] mmol/L; p = 0.026), LDL-C (2.32 [1.80−3.50] mmol/L vs. 2.10 [1.50−2.70] mmol/L; p = 0.003), non-HDL-C (2.89 [2.29−4.19] mmol/L vs. 2.66 [2.06−3.39] mmol/L; p = 0.045), as well as the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (1.75 [1.22−2.60] vs. 1.50 [1.10−1.95]; p = 0.018) were significantly increased in the NOCAD patients compared to the OCAD group due to the lower prevalence and intensity of the statin therapy in the NOCAD individuals (p < 0.001). Moreover, the abovementioned lipid parameters appeared to be valuable predictors of NOCAD, with the LDL-C (OR = 1.44; 95%CI = 1.14−1.82) and LDL-C/HDL-C (OR = 1.51; 95%CI = 1.13−2.02) showing the highest odds ratios. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression models determined female sex as the independent risk factor for NOCAD (OR = 2.37; 95%CI = 1.33−4.20). Simultaneously, arterial hypertension substantially lowered the probability of NOCAD (OR = 0.21; 95%CI = 0.10−0.43). To conclude, female sex, the absence of arterial hypertension, as well as increased TC, LDL-C, non-HDL, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio are risk factors for NOCAD in patients reporting angina, potentially as a result of poor hypercholesterolemia management.

Can short-term heart rate variability predict coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography due to typical chest pain?

BACKGROUND

Presence of typical chest pain and normal coronary angiography suggests the possibility of microvascular ischemia of the myocardium as well as other non-cardiac causes that are also likely to decrease heart rate variability (HRV). This raises a question of whether poor HRV can predict abnormal elective coronary angiography (ECA).

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare HRV in patients with typical chest pain when they are classified according to ECA outcomes.

METHODS

The study enrolled 150 patients planned for ECA in the cardiac center of AlShaab Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, due to typical chest pain. Following assessment of medical history and clinical examination, the Bluetooth electrocardiography (ECG) transmitter and receiver were used for ECG recording and evaluation of time and frequency domains HRV. ECA confirmed the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 108 patients, who were considered as the test group. The other 42 subjects were considered as a control group after the exclusion of CAD.

RESULTS

The Mean±SD of Ln(pNN10), Ln(pNN20), LnLF, and LnHF was significantly higher in subjects with normal angiography compared with CAD patients. However, these statistically significant differences disappeared when the comparison was adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and HR of the studied groups.

CONCLUSION

HRV is comparable in patients with typical chest pain regardless of ECA outcomes.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

The HRV differences between patients with normal and abnormal ECA are likely to be biased by CAD risk factors such as old age, male gender, and tachycardia that are known to disturb HRV. The possibility of microvascular ischemia in patients with normal ECA may have attenuated HRV in this group and make it comparable to those suffering from macrovascular ischemia due to CAD.

Role of the central autonomic nervous system intrinsic functional organisation and psychosocial factors in primary microvascular angina and Takotsubo syndrome

Introduction and objective

Dysfunctional central autonomic nervous system network (CAN) at rest may result in aberrant autonomic responses to psychosocial stressors. We hypothesised that patients with primary microvascular angina (MVA) or Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) would exhibit a peculiar functional organisation of the CAN, potentially associated with psychological patterns.

Methods

Patients underwent a psychosocial evaluation: a clinical diagnostic interview, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The strength of intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) between various nodes of the CAN was investigated using cerebral resting state functional MRI (RS-fMRI).

Results

We evaluated 50 (46 women) stable patients: 16 patients with MVA, 17 patients with TTS and 17 patients with previous acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Compared with AMI, patients with MVA showed a lower (higher impairment) SF-36 Body-Pain score (p 0.046) and a higher SF-36 Mental-Health score (p 0.039). Patients with TTS showed the strongest FC between two nodes of the CAN (sympathetic midcingulate cortex and parasympathetic primary motor area) (F 6.25, p 0.005) using RS-fMRI.

Conclusions

The study implements an innovative collaborative research among cardiologists, neuroscientists and psychiatrists (‘Neuro-psycho-heart Team’). MVA showed a discrepancy between the highest level of self-reported body pain and the best mental health score, which might suggest a mechanism of somatisation. TTS exhibited an increased functional integration between two areas of the CAN involved in interoceptive pain awareness and negative emotional status. We implemented an innovative research collaboration among cardiologists, neuroscientists and psychiatrists. These data are hypothesis generating and suggest potential prospective investigations on pathophysiology and implementation of psychotherapy and stress-reducing techniques as therapeutic strategies.

Trial registration number

NCT02759341.

Level of Anxiety and Depression in Cardiac Syndrome X

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is defined as angina-like symptoms, abnormalities on stress testing, and normal epicardial coronary arteries on coronary angiography. The aim of this study was to determine the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scores of patients with CSX and to compare with healthy controls. Materials/Subjects and Methods: Patients undergoing coronary angiography between January 2015 and December 2016 because of clinical indications, including abnormal noninvasive test results were examined. Two hundred and 10 subjects (110 patients with CSX, 100 controls) were enrolled. Demographic characteristics including age, education level, marriage status, and history of stressful life events were recorded. The Turkish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale was evaluated in the study population.

RESULTS

Anxiety, depression, and total scores in the patients with CSX were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.003, p < 0.001, respectively). Among women, anxiety, depression, total scores, and stressful life events were significantly higher in the CSX group (p = 0.006, p = 0.015, p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with lower educational status had higher anxiety scores (p = 0.03), stressful life events, and HAD-A > 10 were the only independent predictors of CSX in logistic regression analysis with comparable ORs 2.256 (95% CI 1.057-4.817, p = 0.03) and 2,399 (95% CI 1.248-4.613, p = 0.009) respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of our research suggest that patients with CSX have a high prevalence of stress and psychiatric disturbances. Interventions targeted toward improving the quality of life and to give psychological support may have the potential benefits especially for women and individuals with lower education.