Document Detail


Psychological stress and the progression of carotid artery disease.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9050970     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: We examined the relation between cardiovascular reactivity (the response of the cardiovascular system to psychological stress) and the severity and progression of carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: Using duplex ultrasonography, we measured the change in the area of all detectable plaques in the extracranial carotid arteries during 2 years. Cardiovascular reactivity was assessed by measuring changes in hemodynamics during a frustrating cognitive task (the Stroop Color Word Interference Task). Established risk factors for atherosclerosis were measured by interviewing patients, a physical examination, and blood assays for 351 subjects with a wide range of types of atherosclerotic disease. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic plaques were present in the carotid arteries of 273 (78%) subjects. In a forward stepwise multiple regression analysis, it was found that greater age (beta = 0.46), a history of hypertension (beta = 0.20), use of lipid level-lowering agents (beta = 0.18), a longer history of smoking (beta = 0.13), a larger cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein ratio (beta = 0.13), a smaller change in heart rate during the task (beta = -0.12), and a higher resting systolic blood pressure (SBP; beta = 0.11) were associated significantly with a greater plaque area (R2 = 0.35). In 136 untreated subjects who were followed up for 2 years, a greater change in SBP during the task (beta = 0.28), a higher total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein ratio (beta = 0.23), a shorter resting preejection period (beta = -0.19), and a lower body mass index (beta = -0.17) were significant predictors of the change in atherosclerosis, after controlling for age and initial plaque area in a stepwise multiple regression analysis (R2 = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that hemodynamic responses under conditions of mental stress may influence the progression of atherosclerosis.
Authors:
P A Barnett; J D Spence; S B Manuck; J R Jennings
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of hypertension     Volume:  15     ISSN:  0263-6352     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Hypertens.     Publication Date:  1997 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-06-03     Completed Date:  1997-06-03     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8306882     Medline TA:  J Hypertens     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  49-55     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
London Health Sciences Centre and University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Arteriosclerosis / blood,  etiology,  ultrasonography
Carotid Arteries / ultrasonography
Carotid Artery Diseases / blood,  etiology*,  ultrasonography
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hemodynamics
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological / complications*
Time Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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