Perceived stress, common carotid intima media thickness and occupational status: The Paris Prospective Study III. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiernik, Emmanuel; Lemogne, Cédric; Thomas, Frédérique; Perier, Marie-Cécile; Guibout, Catherine; Nabi, Hermann; Laurent, Stéphane; Pannier, Bruno; Boutouyrie, Pierre; Jouven, Xavier; Empana, Jean-Philippe
• Is Part Of: International journal of cardiology. Volume 221(2016)
• Page Start: 1025
• Page End: 1030
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: BMI body mass index -- BP blood pressure -- CCA-IMT common carotid artery intima-media thickness -- CVD cardiovascular disease -- IMT intima-media thickness -- PSS-4 4-item Perceived Stress Scale; Carotid intima-media thickness -- Epidemiology -- Occupational status -- Psychological stress -- Risk factors -- Unemployment; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.07.068
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-5273

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The association between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases may depend upon socio-economic status. The present cross-sectional study examined the potential moderating role of occupational status on the association between perceived stress and intima-media thickness (IMT), using baseline examination data of the Paris Prospective Study III. Methods: IMT was measured in the right common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) 1 cm below the bifurcation, in a zone free of discrete plaques, using non-invasive high-resolution echotracking. Perceived stress was measured with the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale. The association between perceived stress and CCA-IMT was explored using linear regression analysis and regression coefficients (b) were given per 1-point increment. Results: The study population included 5140 participants (3539 men) in the labor force aged 55.9 years on average (standard deviation: 3.9), and who were free of personal history of cardiovascular disease and not on psychotropic drugs. There was a non-significant trend between perceived stress and CCA-IMT after adjustment for socio-demographic, self-rated health and cardiovascular risk factors (b [95% CI] 1.02 [− 0.08;2.12]; p = 0.069). However, multivariable stratified analysis indicates a significant and robust association between perceived stress and CCA-IMT in unemployed participants (b [95% CI] 3.30 [0.44;6.17]), and an association of same magnitude in working participants with low occupational status but without reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: The association between perceived stress and CCA-IMT may depend upon employment status. These results may explain why psychological stress is more tightly linked to cardiovascular disease among individuals facing social adversity.