Clinical and psychological characteristics of patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) and obstructive coronary artery disease.

Study Objective: Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is caused by vascular dysfunctions and predominantly seen in women. For better recognition and prevention more insight is needed on risk factors and well-being. We aimed to explore differences in psychological distress, quality of life, risk factors, and medication use between women with INOCA and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Facial Emotion Expression and the Inducibility of Myocardial Ischemia During Cardiac Stress Testing: The Role of Psychological Background Factors.

Objective: Negative emotional states, such as anger and anxiety, are associated with the onset of myocardial infarction and other acute clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease. The likelihood of experiencing these short-term negative emotions has been associated with long-term psychological background factors such as depression, generalized anxiety, and personality factors. We examined the association of acute emotional states preceding cardiac stress testing (CST) with inducibility of myocardial ischemia and to what extent psychological background factors account for this association.

Facial Expressions of Emotions During Pharmacological and Exercise Stress Testing: the Role of Myocardial Ischemia and Cardiac Symptoms.

Background: Negative emotions have been linked to ischemic heart disease, but existing research typically involves self-report methods and little is known about non-verbal facial emotion expression. The role of ischemia and anginal symptoms in emotion expression was examined.

Methods: Patients undergoing cardiac stress testing (CST) using bicycle exercise or adenosine with myocardial perfusion imaging were included (N = 256, mean age 66.

Psychological factors of suspect coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients undergoing SPECT imaging.

Background: Patients with myocardial ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) often experience anginal complaints and are at risk of cardiac events. Stress-related psychological factors and acute negative emotions might play a role in these patients with suspect coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD).

Methods And Results: 295 Patients (66.

Anxiety and hemodynamic reactivity during cardiac stress testing: The role of gender and age in myocardial ischemia.

Background: The prevalence of myocardial ischemia is associated with anxiety. State and trait anxiety are more common in younger women compared to men, and high anxiety levels could affect hemodynamic reactivity during cardiac stress testing. The aim is to examine whether anxiety plays a role in gender differences in patients ≤ 65 and > 65 years in hemodynamic reactivity and ischemia during cardiac stress testing.