The association between changes in pressure pain sensitivity and changes in cardiovascular physiological factors associated with persistent stress. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ballegaard, Søren; Petersen, Pernille B.; Harboe, Gitte S.; Karpatschof, Benny; Gyntelberg, Finn; Faber, Jens
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of clinical & laboratory investigation. Volume 74:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 116
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Physiology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.0072
• DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2013.862847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-5513

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold> <italic>Objectives</italic>.</bold> To evaluate the possible association between pressure pain sensitivity of the chest bone (PPS) and cardiovascular physiological factors related to persistent stress in connection with a three-month PPS-guided stress-reducing experimental intervention programme. <bold><italic>Methods</italic>.</bold> Forty-two office workers with an elevated PPS (≥ 60 arbitrary units) as a sign of increased level of persistent stress, completed a single-blinded cluster randomized controlled trial. The active treatment was a PPS (self-measurement)-guided stress management programme. Primary endpoints: Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and work of the heart measured as Pressure-Rate-Product (PRP); Secondary endpoints: Other features of the metabolic syndrome. <bold><italic>Results</italic>.</bold> PPS decreased and changes in PPS after the intervention period were significantly associated with HR, PRP, body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat index (all correlation coefficients > 0.2, <italic>p</italic> < 0.05). Compared to the control cluster group, the active cluster group obtained a significant reduction in PPS, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total number of elevated risk factors (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). On an individual level, significant and clinically relevant between-group reductions were observed in respect to BP, HR, PRP, total and LDL cholesterol, and total number of elevated risk factors (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). <bold><italic>Conclusions</italic>.</bold> The stress intervention method applied in this study induced a decrease in PPS which was associated with a clinically relevant decrease in resting blood pressure, heart rate, work of the heart and serum cholesterols.</p> </abstract>