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).
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.
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.