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Predictors of Heart-Focused Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Genetic Investigation and Counseling of Long QT Syndrome or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A One Year Follow-up

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Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

Since Long QT syndrome and Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are inherited cardiac disorders that may cause syncope, palpitations, serious arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, at-risk individuals may experience heart-focused anxiety. In a prospective multi-site study, 126 Norwegian patients attending genetic counseling were followed 1 year with multiple administration of questionnaires, including the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, measuring three distinct symptoms of heart-focused anxiety- avoidance, attention, and fear—in mixed linear analyses. Overall, at 1-year follow-up, patients with clinical diagnosis as compared to patients at genetic risk had significantly higher scores of avoidance (p < .002), attention (p < .005), and fear (p < .007). Sudden cardiac death in close relatives, uncertainty whether other relatives previously had undergone genetic testing, patients’ perceived general health, self-efficacy expectations and procedural satisfaction with genetic counseling were influential in predicting the different symptoms of heart-focused anxiety over time.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all patients who participated in the study. We also acknowledge all helpful assistance from the Genetic Departments in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. The project was supported financially by Western Norway Regional Health Authority and the University of Bergen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Epidemiology Research Group, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Anniken Hamang, Cathrine Bjorvatn & Nina Øyen

  2. Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Anniken Hamang, Cathrine Bjorvatn & Nina Øyen

  3. Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Geir Egil Eide

  4. Research Group on Lifestyle Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Geir Egil Eide

  5. Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Berit Rokne & Karin Nordin

  6. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Karin Nordin

  7. Section of Medical Genetics, St. Olavs Hospital, Eirik Jarls gt. 10, 7006, Trondheim, Norway

    Anniken Hamang

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  1. Anniken Hamang
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  2. Geir Egil Eide
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Correspondence to Anniken Hamang.

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Hamang, A., Eide, G.E., Rokne, B. et al. Predictors of Heart-Focused Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Genetic Investigation and Counseling of Long QT Syndrome or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A One Year Follow-up. J Genet Counsel 21, 72–84 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-011-9393-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-011-9393-6

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