title: Mental vulnerability--a risk factor for ischemic heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to examine whether mental vulnerability is a risk factor for the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) after adjustment for well-established risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In three prospective cohort studies in Copenhagen County, Denmark, we recorded the level of mental vulnerability and possible risk factors to IHD at baseline. For follow-up, the sample was linked to relevant registries to identify all cases of fatal and nonfatal IHD. The relationship between mental vulnerability and IHD was examined using both Kaplan-Meir and Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for possible confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mental vulnerability was significantly associated with the risk for IHD (medium mental vulnerability: hazard ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.91; and high mental vulnerability: hazard ratio 2.05; 95% confidence interval 1.46-2.88), after adjusting for confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results imply that mental vulnerability is an independent risk factor for IHD.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen County Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. falgaard@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Lene Falgaard
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Eplov
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birket-Smith
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Erik Lykke
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mortensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data