Epidemiological Studies onthe Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Disease
- VernacularTitle:社会心理因素与心血管病关系的流行病学研究进展
- Author:
Zhao-Su WU
1
Author Information
1. Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases
- From:
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae
2001;23(1):73-77
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Psychosocial factors contribute significantly to the phathogenesis and expressions of cardiovascular disease(CVD). Recent studies have demonstrated that 5 specific psychosocial entities are most relevant: (1)depression, (2)anxiety; (3)personality factors and character traits; (4)social isolation, and (5)chronic life stress. Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate a significant prospective relationship between the occurrence of major depression and the cardiac events. Increasing evidence now links anxiety disorders to the development of CVD events in general populations. Although type A behavior is continuously found to be positively related with increased risk of CVD, a series of studies have reported no correlation between type A behavior and CVD risk. However, hostility, a major attribute of the type A behavior pattern, is considered to be more pathogenic. Social isolation characterized mainly by a relatively small social network has been shown to be associated with increase in the incidence of CVD over time. Finally, chronic life stress, particularly the work-related stress, proved to be closely related to CVD risk.The pathophysiological mechanisms of psychosocial factors on the pathogenesis of CVD are: ( 1 ) excessive sympathetic nervous system activation, (2) triggering of myocardial ischemia; (3) promotion of arrhythmogenesis, (4)stimulation of platelet function, and (5)deterioration of endothelial function.
