Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the effect of comorbid anxiety disorders on ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring results in elderly patients with coronary artery disease. Methods A total of 104 elderly patients with coronary artery disease in our hospital from March 2021 to February 2023 were selected as observation subjects for anxiety screening, and were set into the anxiety group and the no-anxiety group. Patients in both groups underwent 24h ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring. Compare the incidence of arrhythmia in the two groups. We compared the standard diviation average of NN intervals (SDANN), standard diviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of the successive normal sinus intervals, and root mean square of the successive normal sinus intervals. square of the successive normal sinus R-R interval difference (RMSSD) and other indices of heart rate variability. Results 104 elderly patients with coronary artery disease combined with anxiety in 35 cases, the incidence of atrioventricular block, atrial premature beats, ventricular premature beats, and short burst atrial tachycardia in the anxiety group was significantly higher than that in the no-anxiety group (P<0.05). The difference in the incidence of atrial fibrillation was not statistically significant (P>0.05); SDANN, SDNN, and RMSSD were significantly lower in the anxiety group than in the no-anxiety group (P<0.05). Conclusion Comorbid anxiety disorders increase the incidence of arrhythmias monitored by ambulatory electrocardiography in elderly patients with coronary artery disease, affect heart rate variability, and decrease patients autonomic function.

Key words Comorbid Anxiety Disorder; Elderly; Coronary Heart Disease; Ambulatory Electrocardiogram; Arrhythmia; Heart Rate Variability; Autonomic Function