Psychosocial factors at home and at work and four-year progression in intima media thickness.
This study analyzed the relationship between psychosocial factors and progression in intima media thickness (IMT). In 1998 and 2002, 95 healthy participants underwent a clinical examination, including ultrasound of the arteria carotis communis (ACC). IMT progression in women was 0.033 mm/year (SD=0.033) and in men 0.048 mm/year (SD=0.033). For cohabiting women as opposed to single women, the means for total IMT progression over the 4 years were, respectively, 0.137 (SE=0.019) and 0.016 (SE=0.048) mm. For women with above average as opposed to below average mean scores of effort, IMT progression were 0.149 (SE=0.026) and 0.098 (SE=0.024) mm, respectively. For men without children as opposed to men with children, mean scores for IMT progression were 0.231 (SE=0.029) and 0.137 (SE=0.028) mm, respectively. For men above average as opposed to those below average, scores of effort-reward imbalance IMT progression were 0.216 (SE=0.030) and 0.155 (SE=0.027) mm, respectively. Adjustment for confounders did not change the results significantly. We found that psychosocial factors were independent significant predictors of IMT progression. The associations were different between the genders.
Eller
Nanna Hurwitz
NH
Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical Physiology, Hillerød Hospital. Hillerød. nael@fa.dk
Netterstrøm
Bo
B
D000328:Adult; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography