Association between psychological measures and brain natriuretic peptide in heart failure patients

Figures & data

Table I. Demographic and clinical baseline characteristics of the sample.

Demographics	Total (N=94) Mean ± SD; n (%)
Male	75 (80)
Age (years)	62±9
Marital status
Single	15 (16)
Married	60 (64)
Living together	8 (9)
Other (divorced, widow)	11 (12)
Education
Primary school	70 (75)
Secondary school and above	24 (25)
BMI	27.5±5.4
Psychological
HADS-A	5.0±4.5
HADS-D	4.5±4.0
BDI*	10.7±9.5
Type D personality	20 (21)
Clinical
Etiology
Ischemic heart disease	39 (42)
Cardiomyopathy	30 (32)
Valvular disease	2 (2)
Hypertension	10 (11)
Arrhythmia	5 (5)
Bacterial/Toxic	3 (3)
Other (congenital e.g.)	5 (5)
NYHA functional class
I	3 (3)
II	61 (65)
III	30 (32)
Angina pectoris	15 (16)
Hypercholesterolemia	36 (38)
Diabetes	20 (22)
Anemia	5 (4)
Kidney failure	15 (15)
LVEF	26.1±6.8
Current smoker	23 (24)
Hospitalizations over 9 months	20 (22)
Medication use
Beta blockers	91 (98)
Calcium channel antagonist	5 (4)
Nitrates	9 (9)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors	80 (86)
Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB)	12 (13)
Statins	48 (52)
Diuretics	76 (81)
Psychotropic medication	8 (8)

*Based on N =76. HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-anxiety; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression; DBI, Depression Beck Inventory; NYHA, New York Heart Association; LVEF, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction; BMI, Body mass index.

Table II. Association between baseline psychological risk markers (i.e., symptoms of anxiety and depression and Type D personality) and NT-proBNP levels (pg/ml) and log NT-proBNP at baseline and at 9 months follow-up*.

Baseline	NT-proBNP Median (IQR)	log NT-proBNP Mean (SD)	p-value
HADS-A (N =94)
Anxiety ≥8	718 ± (258–1791)	2.83±0.61	0.25
No anxiety <8	1049 ± (483–2272)	2.98±0.50
HADS-D (N =94)
Depression ≥8	931 ± (338–3232)	2.94±0.65	0.27
No depression <8	973 ± (390–2015)	2.95±0.50
BDI (N =76)
Depression ≥10	849 ± (290–3027)	2.92±0.60	0.22
No depression <10	958 ± (431–1745)	2.92±0.49
DS14 (N =94)
Type D ≥10	1204 ± (541–4940)	3.14±0.60	0.24
Non-Type D <10	886 ± (379–1642)	2.90±0.50
Follow-up (9 months)
HADS-A (N =74)
Anxiety ≥8	480 ± (194–1199)	2.69±0.57	0.68
No anxiety <8	679 ± (232–1249)	2.73±0.58
HADS-D (N =74)
Depression ≥8	567 ± (221–997)	2.71±0.59	0.76
No depression <8	613 ± (217–1264)	2.76±0.52
BDI (N =51)
Depression ≥10	650 ± (216–1379)	2.77±0.68	0.85
No depression <10	567 ± (263–1248)	2.74±0.43
DS14 (N =74)
Type D ≥10	487 ± (171–1304)	2.74±0.65	0.83
Non-Type D <10	629 ± (263–1243)	2.71±0.55

*T-tests were performed with natural log NT-proBNP values, p-value * <0.01 ** <0.05. HADS-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety; HADS-D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DS14, Type D Scale; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide.

Figure 1. Association between psychological risk markers and NT-proBNP at baseline and at 9 months.