Happiness and stress alter susceptibility to cardiac events in Long QT Syndrome.

Happiness and stress alter susceptibility to cardiac events in Long QT Syndrome.

MedLine Citation:	PMID: 19419405 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE
Abstract/OtherAbstract:	OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the circumstances preceding an arrhythmic event differed from those preceding a prior control occasion in patients with Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a well-characterized genetic disorder that puts affected individuals at risk for sudden cardiac death. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (89% female) with LQTS completed a "case-crossover interview" in which each patient served as his/her own control by reporting on circumstances preceding an arrhythmic event (syncope, aborted cardiac arrest, or defibrillator discharge) and preceding a control occasion (the next-to-last birthday). On average the interview was conducted 17 months after the cardiac event and control occasion. RESULTS: During the 24-hour period preceding the cardiac event compared to the day before the control occasion, psychological stress was elevated, peak happiness was reduced, and peak exertion was not significantly different. Rated for the 6-month intervals preceding the event and control occasions, none of these three variables was significantly associated with events. CONCLUSIONS: Happiness is associated with a reduction in the 24-hour risk of cardiac events in patients with LQTS, with stress having an opposite effect. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that positive emotion may have a protective effect on life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This study lends further support to the role of emotions in influencing cardiac events in arrhythmia-prone patients.

Authors:	Richard D Lane; Harry T Reis; Derick R Peterson; Wojciech Zareba; Arthur J Moss
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Publication Detail:	Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal Detail:	Title: Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc Volume: 14 ISSN: 1542-474X ISO Abbreviation: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Publication Date: 2009 Apr
Date Detail:	Created Date: 2009-05-07 Completed Date: 2009-08-20 Revised Date: -
Medline Journal Info:	Nlm Unique ID: 9607443 Medline TA: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Country: United States
Other Details:	Languages: eng Pagination: 193-200 Citation Subset: IM
Affiliation:	Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724-5002, USA. lane@email.arizona.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:	Adult Arrhythmias, Cardiac / epidemiology, physiopathology, prevention & control Case-Control Studies Causality Comorbidity Cross-Over Studies Death, Sudden, Cardiac / epidemiology, prevention & control Female Happiness* Humans Interviews as Topic Long QT Syndrome / epidemiology, physiopathology Male Odds Ratio Risk Factors Stress, Psychological / epidemiology, physiopathology United States / epidemiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:	HL 33843/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; HL 51618/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; HL 68764/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS

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