TITLE:
Current Status of the Application of Fear of Disease Progression-Related Scales in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
AUTHORS:
Qingqing Zeng, Jiyu Li, Gaoye Li
KEYWORDS:
Cardiovascular Diseases, Fear of Disease Progression, Review
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.6,
June
18,
2026
ABSTRACT: Fear of disease progression (FoP) refers to the fear of individuals facing all biological, psychological, and social consequences of real existing diseases, as well as the fear of disease recurrence. Patients’ long-term excessive fear of disease progression severely reduces their treatment compliance, affecting treatment effects and their quality of life. Patients with cardiovascular diseases often exhibit a psychological state of fear of disease progression when facing sudden cardiac events, complex examinations and surgeries, as well as high recurrence and mortality rates. Dual Heart Medicine points out that psychological factors are important influencing factors of cardiovascular diseases and should be part of the overall prevention and treatment system of the disease. Therefore, this paper reviews the definition of fear of disease progression, relevant assessment tools, and their research progress in patients with cardiovascular diseases, in order to provide a reference for conducting corresponding interventional studies.