title: Can Illness Perceptions Predict Lower Heart Rate Variability following Acute Myocardial Infarction?
abstract: Objective:Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported to be a predictor of mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). Patients' beliefs and perceptions concerning their illness may play a role in decreased HRV. This study investigated if illness perceptions predict HRV at 3 months following acute MI.Methods:130 patients referred to a tertiary cardiology center, were examined within 48 h and 3 months following acute MI. At admission, patients' cognitive representations of their MI were assessed using the German version of the self-rated Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ). At admission and after 3 months (follow-up), frequency and time domain measures of HRV were obtained from 5-min electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings during stable supine resting.Results:Linear hierarchical regression showed that the Brief IPQ dimensions timeline (β coefficient = 0.29;p= 0.044), personal control (β = 0.47;p= 0.008) and illness understanding (β = 0.43; p = 0.014) were significant predictors of HRV, adjusted for age, gender, baseline HRV, diabetes, beta-blockers, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), attendance of cardiac rehabilitation, and depressive symptoms.Conclusions:As patients' negative perceptions of their illness are associated with lower HRV following acute MI, a brief illness perception questionnaire may help to identify patients who might benefit from a specific illness perceptions intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland; Psychosomatic Research Group, Department of Clinical Research, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University HospitalBern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Princip
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland; Psychosomatic Research Group, Department of Clinical Research, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Clienia Schlössli AG, Private Psychiatric and Psychotherapy ClinicOetwil am See, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Meister-Langraf
authors.affiliation: Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schnyder
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Znoj
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Tiefenauspital, Bern University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University Columbus Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of BernBern, Switzerland; Psychosomatic Research Group, Department of Clinical Research, University of BernBern, Switzerland; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Clinic BarmelweidBarmelweid, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Känel
keywords: heart rate variability; illness perceptions; longitudinal study; myocardial infarction; psychological stress