C-reactive protein and fibrinogen in non-obstructive coronary artery disease as related to depressive symptoms and anxiety: Findings from the TweeSteden Mild Stenosis Study (TWIST)

Objective The majority of acute coronary syndromes occur in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the underlying biobehavioral processes are not well understood. Depressive symptoms and anxiety are predictive of prognosis, and have been associated with markers of inflammation that play a role in atherosclerosis. This study examines whether depressive symptoms and anxiety are associated with higher levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen in patients with non-obstructive CAD. Methods Patients with non-obstructive CAD (“wall irregularities”, stenosis 0.10) and BMI was the only variable that was independently associated with hs-CRP (β = .203, p 0.10). Conclusion Among patients with non-obstructive CAD, depressive symptoms and anxiety were not independently associated with hs-CRP and fibrinogen.Keywords: Non-obstructive coronary artery disease, Depression, Anxiety, hs-CRP, Fibrinogen, BMI, Lifestyl