Autor:innen:
Sandra Meier, Halifax (Canada)
Jürgen Deckert, Würzburg (Germany)
Stefan Störk, Würzburg (Germany)
Felizitas Eichner, Würzburg (Germany)
Theresa Tiffe, Würzburg (Germany)
Margret Breuning, Würzburg (Germany)
Vladimir Cejka, Würzburg (Germany)
Andreas Menke, Würzburg (Germany)
Caroline Morbach, Würzburg (Germany)
Peter Heuschmann, Würzburg (Germany)
Götz Gelbrich, Würzburg (Germany)
Introduction. The population-based STAAB study investigates the prevalence of precursor stages of heart failure (HF) and their relationship to risk factors in the City of Würzburg, Lower Franconia, Germany.
Methods. Interim analysis of the STAAB study included 2473 individuals (first half of the total sample) without history of HF. Precursor stages of HF were defined by risk factors (hypertension, atherosclerotic disease, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome). Depression was recorded by the PHQ-9 questionnaire and categorized according to the manual into none (< 2 score points), minor (2 - 4) or severe (> 5). Similarly, anxiety was captured by the GAD-7 questionnaire and categorized into none (< 5 score points), mild (5 - 9), moderate (10 - 14), severe (> 14).
Results. 2447 individuals (30-79 years, 51% female) answered the questionnaires. Prevalence of any depression was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.2%-11.7%; minor 6.3%, major 4.2%) with higher risk in women (odds ratio, OR 1.65, 1.27-2.16). Anxiety was moderate or severe in 5.5% (4.6%-6.4%) and mild in 18.3% with higher risk of any anxiety in women (OR 1.68, 1.39-2.03). Depression was associated with four risk factors for HF (atherosclerotic disease OR 3.17, diabetes OR 1.64, obesity OR 1.67, and metabolic syndrome OR 1.93; except hypertension OR 1.12, 0.84-1.51). In contrast anxiety was only associated with two risk factors for HF (atherosclerotic disease OR 1.79 and metabolic syndrome OR 1.30).
Conclusions. Risk factors for the development for HF are associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety in the general population. Future research is need to explore, if the successful management of depression and anxiety in individuals with these risk factors can lead to a reduction in HF risk.