Psychological factors underpinning coronary angiography referrals

To examine potential reasons for over-referral of primary care patients referred for coronary angiographic assessment due to suspicion of coronary artery disease, i.e., patients with a negative angiogram result. Additionally, to examine if psychological predictors related to patient-reported symptoms (pain, perceived cardiac function, pain catastrophizing, depression, health anxiety, general anxiety) contribute to the prediction of a normal versus a pathological angiogram result beyond the merits of medical journal data (e.g., diagnostic subtype, degree of stenosis, lipid measures).

Project aims
1) to investigate possible reasons for the increase in referrals of patients from general practitioners to specialist coronary angiography assessment,
2) to identify gender differences in cardiovascular symptom profiles,
3) to examine the utility of identifying psychological variables in addition to medical ones for the characterization and prediction of clinical trajectories related to mental health (anxiety and depression), fatigue, sleep problems and health-related quality of life,

4) to examine if cinical trajectories as described in #3 differ between patients with positive angiogram findings as compared to negative findings, and between patients receiving invasive treatment (PCI or bypass) as compared to those not in need of treatment.

Data is collected from patients at UNN that are referred to angiography assessment due to suspected coronary artery disease. Data from the patients are obtained before angiography, at 1 and 3 years follow-up, as well as at 10 and 20 years follow-up with regard to register data about coronary diseases.

Project members

Svein Bergvik (main supervisor of ph.d. student).
Ingvild Myrbakk (ph.d. student).
Terje Steigen (Dr. med., Specialist in Cardiology)
Anne Høye (Dr. med, Specialist in Psyhiatry).

Medlemmer:

Oddgeir Friborg (Principal investigator)

Finansiering:

Financed by our own research group, and supported by the Faculty of Health Sciences with a ph.d. position.