# Concern or fear of circulatory system disease

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class KS90 - condition scope only, no dose · Illness Anxiety Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK554399) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/ · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care

## Treatment metadata

- No drug therapy in primary care (Recognition & Referral)

## Complete treatment card

```text
CONCERN OR FEAR OF CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DISEASE
Sources: ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class KS90 -
         condition scope only, no dose · Illness Anxiety Disorder - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
         (NBK554399) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554399/ · No dose - referral pathway,
         no medicine given in primary care
Review status: REVIEWED against the source listed above  (2026-08)

1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (RECOGNITION & REFERRAL)[1st line]
   Adult    Patients presenting with health anxiety or fear of cardiovascular disease (cardiophobia)
            require a systematic cardiovascular examination, resting ECG, and targeted
            cardiovascular risk factor assessment (blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic status)
            to rule out organic disease. Once acute coronary syndromes and structural pathology are
            excluded, provide clear explanation of somatic anxiety symptoms (such as sinus
            tachycardia or palpitations) and structured reassurance. Offer referral for cognitive
            behavioral therapy or psychological support if health anxiety causes severe functional
            impairment or compulsive reassurance-seeking. - Refer
   Peds     Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is
            implied.
   Source   No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
   Why      Patients presenting with health anxiety or fear of cardiovascular disease (cardiophobia)
            require a systematic cardiovascular examination, resting ECG, and targeted
            cardiovascular risk factor assessment (blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic status)
            to rule out organic disease. Once acute coronary syndromes and structural pathology are
            excluded, provide clear explanation of somatic anxiety symptoms (such as sinus
            tachycardia or palpitations) and structured reassurance. Offer referral for cognitive
            behavioral therapy or psychological support if health anxiety causes severe functional
            impairment or compulsive reassurance-seeking.
   Caution  RED FLAG - Hemodynamically significant sustained arrhythmias: assess urgently and refer.
            RED FLAG - Acute dyspnea, orthopnea, or pulmonary edema: assess urgently and refer.
            RED FLAG - Exertional syncope or presyncope: assess urgently and refer.
            RED FLAG - Acute crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or left arm: assess
            urgently and refer.
            Must rule out genuine angina, arrhythmia, or evolving myocardial infarction before
            attributing symptoms to anxiety alone.
            No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and
            referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
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Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement.

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