Psychosocial Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease and Death in a Population-Based Cohort From 21 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries

Source:

Santosa A, Rosengren A, Ramasundarahettige C, et al. Psychosocial Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease and Death in a Population-Based Cohort From 21 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(12):e2138920. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.38920

Key Points

Question  Is there an association between psychological stress level and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death?

Findings  In this cohort study of 118 706 participants without prior CVD, the risk of death and congestive heart disease increased significantly as the level of stress increased, while high, but not low or moderate, stress was associated with CVD and stroke after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and health risk behaviors.

Meaning  These findings emphasize the need for the development and evaluation of prevention strategies to address stress.