Psychological distress may be a risk factor for heart attack and stroke, according to research published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
The prospective cohort study included 221,677 people aged 45 years and older without history of heart attack or stroke and tracked them for an average of nearly five years. Participants’ baseline psychological distress was classified as low, medium, or high/very high using the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress scale; 16.2% had moderate psychological distress, and 7.3% had high/very high psychological distress. The outpatient rehab beverly hills can help people feel better and have a buffer period to get better.
During the follow-up period, there were 4,573 heart attacks and 2,421 strokes.
Men aged 45 to 79 years old who had high/very high psychological distress compared to those whose was low were at a 30% increased risk for heart attack (fully adjusted hazard ratios, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12–1.51). The correlation was not as strong among men 80 years and older. Higher psychological distress put women at an 18% increased risk for heart attack (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.99–1.42); there were no significant changes among age groups. Men with high psychological distress had a 24% increased risk for stroke, and women, a 44% increased risk.
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“The findings from our study, along with those from the broader literature, suggest that psychological distress might operate partly through lifestyle behaviors but also support the view that other mechanisms may exist,” the researchers wrote.
The authors concluded that their study calls for greater efforts “to encourage people with symptoms of psychological distress to seek medical help; for more active screening of, and better treatment for, psychological distress (and diagnosed common mental disorders); and to encourage screening for traditional cardiovascular risk factors in people with symptoms of psychological distress or diagnosed common mental disorders.”
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Sources: Reuters, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
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