When looking at anxiety at baseline as predictor and NT-proBNP as dependent variable, correlations remained negative in the full cohort (r = − 0.041; p = 0.431) with a statistical trend in the men (r = − 0.132; p = 0.079).
When the male subjects were tested separately, the associations became significant or marginally significant and of similar strength as described in previous studies [ 12 , 19 ] while for the female patients no significant associations were observed.
Discussion In the present study, we found weak correlations between higher NT-proBNP levels and lower scores on the HADS anxiety scale at baseline and after 12 months, which were, however, not clearly significant.