Study: Health Anxiety Could Increase Ischemic Heart Risk By 70%

Health-related anxiety is associated with a 70% increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), according to a recent study.

Previous research has suggested a relationship between anxiety and increased IHD risk, independent of established risk factors. However, little is known about the specific effects of health anxiety on risk of disease.
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To further explore this relationship, researchers examined data from 7052 participants in the Hordaland Health Study. The participants answered questions about their health and lifestyle and underwent blood tests, weigh, height, and blood pressure measurements. Using the Whiteley Index, the participants’ anxiety levels were recorded. Scores above 90% were considered to be anxiety cases.

Over 12 years of follow-up, 234 participants had an ischemic incident. Twice as many participants with health anxiety developed heart disease as those without anxiety, with 6.1% of anxiety cases and 3% of non-anxiety cases developing IHD.

After adjustments for established cardiovascular risk factors, participants with health anxiety had an increased risk of IHD of roughly 70%.

“This finding corroborates and extends the understanding of anxiety in various forms as a risk factor for IHD. New evidence of negative consequences over time underlines the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment for health anxiety.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Berge LI, Skogen JC, Sulo G, et al. Health anxiety and risk of ischaemic heart disease: a prospective cohort study linking the Hordaland Health Study (HUSK) with the Cardiovascular Diseases in Norway (CVDNOR) project [published online November 3, 2016].