Mental vulnerability--a risk factor for ischemic heart disease.
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.
Eplov
Lene Falgaard
LF
Copenhagen County Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. falgaard@dadlnet.dk
Jørgensen
Torben
T
Birket-Smith
Morten
M
Petersen
Janne
J
Johansen
Christoffer
C
Mortensen
Erik Lykke
EL
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