The role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in psychosocial functioning of depressed coronary heart disease patients
von Stella Verena Fangauf
Datum der mündl. Prüfung:2019-12-03
Erschienen:2019-12-11
Betreuer:Prof. Dr. Christoph Herrmann-Lingen
Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Christoph Herrmann-Lingen
Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Aribert Rothenberger
Dateien
Name:Dissertation_SVFangauf_SUB.pdf
Size:1.35Mb
Format:PDF
Zusammenfassung
Englisch
Patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) are often affected by mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and low quality of life. This affects the progression of their heart condition negatively. Natriuretic peptides might play a role in the patients' mental adaptation to CHD. Studies on A-type natriuretic peptide (ANP) found an anxiolytic effect of this peptide in humans. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was also shown to have anxiolytic properties in an animal model but results in humans were so far inconclusive. To determine the role of BNP with regard to mental health in CHD patients, data from a large multicenter trial were analyzed. Based on previous studies it was hypothesized that high levels of BNP would be negatively associated with the patients’ physical state, but positively with their mental health. The hypotheses were tested with cross-sectional data of 529 mildly to moderately depressed CHD patients. N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) was assessed at baseline together with a variety of psychometric tests and somatic data from medical records. Mental health was assessed repeatedly over 24 months using standardized questionnaires. The association of NT-proBNP and anxiety was subsequently assessed in more detail using longitudinal data of 308 patients with baseline NT-proBNP measures and anxiety measures from baseline to 24-months follow-up. Linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, and physical functioning showed significant negative associations of baseline NT-proBNP with depression, anxiety, vital exhaustion, negative affectivity, and depressive coping but positive associations with self-rated mental health, despite worse physical functioning. Linear regression models of the longitudinal data adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, and physical functioning showed that baseline NT-proBNP was a significant predictor for anxiety at baseline, 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Surprisingly, a linear mixed model analysis showed a significant time*NT-proBNP*sex interaction when NT-proBNP as fixed factor was dichotomized into the lowest vs. the three highest quartiles. In this sample, women with very low levels of NT-proBNP had persisting high levels of anxiety while in all other groups anxiety decreased over the investigated period of two years. The results indicate that (NT-pro)BNP is associated with the patients’ overall mental health and anxiety over two years. However, different pathways for men and women seem to be present. These results are discussed, and possible mechanisms are suggested.
Keywords: coronary heart disease; natriuretic peptide; mental health; anxiety; depression; quality of life