ASSOCIATION OF ANXIETY DISORDER AND CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study aims to assess the extent of carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients with and without anxiety disorder.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, two groups of participants with and without anxiety disorder (40 and 80 subjects, respectively) according to DSM-IV were selected from the Psychiatry Clinic of Noor Hospital and Mental Health Unit of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center by simple sampling method. Evaluation of major risk factors was performed after recording demographic characteristics. Zung questionnaire was used to assess severity of anxiety. Carotid ultrasonography was performed in three portions of carotid arteries, bilaterally, and Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) .8 mm was considered as atherosclerosis. Statistical analysis included t-test, χ2 and logistic regression.RESULTS: Mean age of participants with and without anxiety disorder was 49.07 ±12.08 and 48.68 ± 11.02 years, respectively. Major atherosclerosis risk factors did not differ significantly between the two groups. IMT values in all portions were significantly higher in the anxiety group. The presence of anxiety was positively associated with the presence of atherosclerosis in all branches, except for the left common carotid artery.DISCUSSION: Anxiety increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, hence measures must be adopted to control anxiety with pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions to reduce atherosclerosis.