Life events, quality of life, autonomic nervous system, and cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Background

Psychological distress is considered as a component of the cardiovascular risk. The present study aims to determine which psychophysiological, electrocardiographic and anthropometric factors are correlated with life events, depression and quality of life in healthy adults.

Method

A total of 114 adults were examined using the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, the EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory – Second Edition, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Physiological measures included heart rate variability, skin conductance level and skin temperature. Anthropometric characteristics included weight, height, hip size, waistline, blood pressure, heart rate at rest and after mental activity, muscle mass, fat stock, percentage of the body fat, segmental distribution of muscle and fat mass, fat-free mass and the water content in the body. Finally, data from electrocardiographic examination included aortic pulse wave velocity, central aortic pressure and augmentation index.

Results

Life events in last two years correlate with worse quality of life and a higher level of depression. Life events in last two years also correlate with the increase of the risk factors for cardiovascular problems in terms of several anthropometric and physiological measures. Finally, life events in last two years was also related with the overweight.

Conclusions

Results suggest some possible mechanisms by which stress may exert adverse effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in healthy persons. Primary preventive strategies with the stress management training may prove beneficial.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.