Long-term Effects of Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Anger on Hospitalizations or Death and Health Status in Heart Failure Patients

BackgroundChronic and acute stress and emotion predict incidence/recurrence of CHD, but long-term effects on HF exacerbations are poorly understood. This study determined long-term chronic and episodic effects of stress, anxiety, and anger on hospitalizations or death, and worsened health status in HF. Methods and Results147 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) completed measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS), state anxiety (STAI), recent anger (RA), and HF-related health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire; KCCQ) every 6 months for up to 39 months. Relationships of chronic (Mean) stress and emotion and episodic changes (Deviation) to subsequent hospitalizations or death and health status were determined utilizing Generalized Estimating Equation models. All-cause hospitalizations were predicted by chronic (Mean) PSS (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, p=0.004), Mean STAI (OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.03, 1.10, p<0.001), and episodic (Deviation) PSS (OR=1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p=0.022). Mean PSS and Mean STAI also predicted cardiovascular hospitalizations. Each 1 standard deviation increase in Mean PSS and Mean STAI was associated, respectively, with a 61% and 79% increase in hospitalization or death. Anger was not associated with hospitalizations. Poorer KCCQ health status was related to higher Mean and Deviation PSS, STAI, and RA. Relationships to hospitalizations and health status were significant for Anxiety and Perceived Stress, independently of the other psychological measures. ConclusionsIn HF patients, chronic perceived stress and anxiety and episodic stress increases are predictive of hospitalizations or death and worsened health status over a >3-year period. Mechanisms may involve sympathetic activation, and/or exacerbations of perceived symptoms or health behaviors.