Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Instigation of Cardiovascular Events: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder with chronic deterioration that arises after exposure to traumatic events. In these events, a persistent maladaptive reaction was found as a result of severe psychological stress and trauma. It is usually accompanied by mood alteration, disturbing memories, evading behavior, and hyperarousal. Many studies found a connection between PTSD and both ischemic heart disease (IHD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system can contribute to hypercoagulability, elevated cardiac reactivity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic inflammation, as all of these processes are implicated in IHD and AF risk. PTSD tends to have a more long-term course and is associated with more autonomic reactivity rather than a direct negative impact. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the increased AF risk in patients with PTSD and to identify supposed objectives for screening, intervention, and treatment. Highlighting the connection between PTSD and cardiovascular events would lead clinicians to develop screening tests that might help with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular events for these patients.