Unrealistic pessimism about risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the accuracy of type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients' risk estimates of developing coronary heart disease (CHD)/having a stroke as a consequence of diabetes and their mood about these risks.


METHODS
Patients reported their perceived risks of developing CHD/having a stroke and rated their mood about these risks using a self-report measure. Using an objective risk calculator, they were then told their actual risk of CHD and stroke and their mood was re-assessed.


RESULTS
Patients' estimates of their risk of CHD/stroke were grossly inflated. A negative relationship between disease risk and mood was also seen where higher risk of actual and perceived CHD/stroke was related to worse mood. A positive relationship between mood and extent of perceptual error was further observed; the more inaccurate patients' perceptions of CHD/stroke risk were, the better their mood. Mood improved after patients were given accurate risk information.


CONCLUSIONS
T2D patients are unrealistically pessimistic about their risk of developing CHD/stroke. These risks and the extent of perceptual risk error are associated with mood, which improves upon providing patients with accurate risk information about CHD/stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
These results have implications for the routine communication of risk to T2D patients.
Asimakopoulou
Koula G
KG
King's College London, Dental Institute, Oral Health Services Research & Dental Public Health, Caldecot Road, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RW, UK. koula.asimakopoulou@kcl.ac.uk
Skinner
T Chas
TC
Spimpolo
Jennifer
J
Marsh
Sally
S
Fox
Charles
C
D000339:Affect; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom