Association between beta-blocker and statin use and mental health in patients following pulmonary embolism: a prospective cohort study

BMC Psychol. 2026 Jul 16;14(1):1063. doi: 10.1186/s40359-026-05187-w.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Beta-blockers and statins are important drugs for the prevention of several cardiovascular diseases and are often prescribed in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients suffering from cardiovascular comorbidities. The present observational cohort study aims to investigate the potential association between the use of both beta-blockers and statins and the symptoms of depression and anxiety after PE.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This analysis is based on 538 patients with acute PE who were admitted to the University hospital Augsburg between the years 2017 and 2022 and participated in the ‘Lungenembolie-Augsburg (LEA)’ study. The participants were interviewed during their hospital stay and received postal questionnaires three months after discharge. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between both regular beta-blocker and statin use prior to PE and depression and anxiety (HADS-Scores) three months after PE, respectively. While prior use of beta-blockers was significantly associated with depressiveness (β = 0.87 [0.01-1.74], p = 0.046) and anxiety (β = 0.87 [CI: 0.05-1.69], p = 0.037), statins did not show a significant association with either depression or anxiety.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an association between beta-blocker use and mental well-being of PE patients, which physicians must be aware of in the treatment of these patients.

PMID:42464400 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-026-05187-w