Hostility and related psychometric profiling in coronary artery disease patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation: a matched cross-sectional study

Abstract Background and aim Cardiac rehabilitation is essential for coronary heart disease patients. Past studies show psychosocial factors like depression, anxiety, hostility, and Type D personality traits may affect rehabilitation outcomes. However, psychometric profiling in Taiwanese cardiac rehabilitation is limited. This study examines the psychosocial profiling of coronary artery disease patients in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Method From December 2022 to May 2023, patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease underwent screening and were enrolled in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program at a tertiary hospital in central Taiwan. Each patient was matched for age and gender with normal participants. Demographic and clinical data were collected from all participants. All subjects were assessed using the self-administered psychoneurological measures, including the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, Type D personality questionnaire, and Chinese Hostility Inventory-Short Form. Result A total of 61 patients and 45 normal controls were included in the study, with 93% of patients participating in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Among the patient cohort, 27.9% presented with depression, 8.2% showed moderate to severe anxiety, and 16.4% manifested Type D personality traits. In the control group, 20% displayed depression, 8.9% exhibited moderate to severe anxiety, and 17.8% exhibited Type D personality traits. Hostility Inventory total scores were lower in the patient group compared to the control group, with a statistically significant difference noted in the Hostility Cognition domain (11.85+4.92 vs 13.80+4.83, p= 0.05). Conclusion In patients enrolled in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, depression and anxiety are prevalent, underscoring the need for psychosocial risk factor-specific management within cardiac rehabilitation program. The potential effect of cardiac rehabilitation on improving patients' psychosocial health through the reduction of hostility merits additional investigation. Result-Psychometric profiling.