International Journal of Cardiovascular ResearchISSN: 2324-8602

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Research Article, Int J Cardiovas Res Vol: 6 Issue: 1

Causes Of Anxiety In Patients Undergoing Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Bettina Baeßler1*, Valentin Wagner2, Simon Davies3, Annelieke M Roest4, Susanne Lethaus-Weigl1, Roman Pfister5, Alexander C. Bunck1, David Maintz1, Stephan Baldus5 and Guido Michels5
1Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany
2Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
3Geriatric Psychiatry Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health/University of Toronto, Canada
4Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
5Department III of Internal Medicine, Heart Center, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany
Corresponding author : Bettina Baeßler, MD
Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, D-50937 Cologne, Germany
Tel: 0049-221-478-82035
Fax: 0049-221-478-82384
E-mail: bettina.baessler@uk-koeln.de
Received: January 22, 2016 Accepted: November 22, 2016 Published: January 13, 2017
Citation: Baeßler B, Wagner V, Davies S, Roest AM, Weigl SL, et al. (2017) Causes of Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography. Int J Cardiovasc Res 6:1. doi: 10.4172/2324-8602.1000298

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the underlying causes of anxiety in patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and to correlate anxiety to patient-related factors (e.g. anxiety concerning the potential diagnosis of CAD or claustrophobia), in order to establish a patient-related risk profile for anxiety. Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional analysis of patients’ anxiety and the underlying causes of anxiety prior to a CCTA-scan, including 325 patients. Questions concerning the patients’ state of anxiety and the underlying causes were asked by the radiologist during the standard informed consent prior to the CCTA-examination. Statistical analysis was performed including patient-related factors. Results: In total, 47.3% of patients reported a feeling of anxiety before undergoing CCTA (n=146). Anxiety showed much higher prevalence in women than in men (60.0% vs. 39.1%, p<0.005). The majority of anxious patients were afraid about the potential diagnosis of CAD (41.7% of women, 51.4% of men). The second most frequent cause of anxiety was claustrophobia (19.4% of women, 23.0% of men), immediately followed by fear about the admission of contrast material (15.3% of women, 13.5% of men). 9.7% of women and 5.4% of men were scared of radiation, and 2.8% of women / 1.4% of men expressed fear of intravenous needle placement. Conclusion: The results of our study underline that CCTA-related anxiety is relevant and not negligible, especially in women. Hence, the assumption that CT does not possess a relevant anxiogenic potential and therefore does not require specific anxiety-moderating measures should be challenged.

Keywords: Coronary computed tomography angiography; Coronary artery disease; Anxiety

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