High plasma levels of N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide associated with low anxiety in severe heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
Plasma levels of natriuretic peptides are elevated in congestive heart failure (CHF). These peptides show anxiolytic properties in studies of rodents and patients with panic disorder, but their possible effect on anxiety has never been studied in cardiac patients. We therefore assessed associations of the Atrial Natriuretic Pro-Peptide (pro-ANP) with anxiety in patients with CHF and controls.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 119 patients (46 with CHF, 76 controls with cardiovascular risk factors) in a tertiary care center. The study included assessment of CHF severity, ejection fraction, pro-ANP (microtiter assay), and psychosocial status (self-rating questionnaires for anxiety, depression, vital exhaustion, and quality of life).


RESULTS
The diagnosis and severity of CHF was significantly related to pro-ANP levels, bad physical quality of life, vital exhaustion, and depression. However, there was no significant effect of disease severity on anxiety. In CHF patients, pro-ANP was negatively correlated with anxiety (rho = -0.30, p =.041). In the whole group, anxiety was independently predicted by vital exhaustion, depression, and younger age (overall adjusted R2 = 0.48). Pro-ANP plasma levels showed an additional, inverse association with anxiety (beta = -0.17, p =.013, adjusted R2 = 0.50). Predicted mean anxiety scores derived from this model showed a good fit with anxiety scores observed in subgroups defined by CHF severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Pro-ANP plasma levels are independently and inversely related to anxiety. Even in severe CHF with severely compromised quality of life, anxiety tends to decrease with high pro-ANP levels. This might be part of a negative feedback loop limiting psychological distress and its adverse autonomic consequences in severe heart failure.
Herrmann-Lingen
Christoph
C
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. cherrma@gwdg.de
Binder
Lutz
L
Klinge
Michael
M
Sander
Julia
J
Schenker
Wiebke
W
Beyermann
Beate
B
von Lewinski
Dirk
D
Pieske
Burkert
B
D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood; D013318:Stroke Volume; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography
D010446:Peptide Fragments; C055659:atrial natriuretic factor prohormone (1-98); D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor