Coronary disease & ACSResearch article
Double Trouble: Clinical and Psychological Characteristics in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) With and Without Fibromuscular Dysplasia
- multicenter study
Authors' conclusion
SCAD patients who receive a concomitant FMD diagnosis exhibit distinct characteristics and substantially higher psychological distress, highlighting the need for early, comprehensive screening for both FMD, and psychological distress. Given that FMD diagnosis itself may increase psychological burden, anticipatory psychological support and tailored interventions are warranted for this high-risk subgroup.
Study context
- Population
- SCAD patients diagnosed <3 years prior296 (90.8%) completed fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) screening, with 128 (43.2%) meeting the diagnostic criteria
- Participants
- 326 patients
- Comparison
- SCAD patients with and without FMD
- FMDn = 128
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Demographic and clinical characteristics
- Compared to those without FMD, patients with FMD were older, more often females, and more likely to have a history of migraines
Further findings
Psychological distress among patients aware of their FMD diagnosis vs those without known FMD
depression
anxiety
cardiac anxiety
post-traumatic stress
- Psychological distress among patients aware of their FMD diagnosis vs those without known FMD: all P < 0.05
Original publication
Double Trouble: Clinical and Psychological Characteristics in SCAD With and Without Fibromuscular Dysplasia. JACC Adv. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102814
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it