Psychosocial status and health related quality of life in relation to the metabolic syndrome in a Swedish middle-aged population.
BACKGROUND
The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a combination of risk factors related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial factors and stress have been suggested to be important determinants.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse how psychosocial factors, perceived stress and health related quality of life are related to MS, and assess if observed associations are dependent of life-style.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 502 men and 505 women aged 45-69, from southeast Sweden, including fasting blood samples, blood pressure, anthropometrics, self-reported data of life-style, psychosocial status and health related quality of life (SF-36). Linear regression models were adjusted for age and, in a second step, also for life-style.


RESULTS
Men and women with MS reported lower levels of physical activity, lower scores on physical and social dimensions of SF-36, and women with MS reported stronger effect of social change compared to those without MS (p<0.05), but we found no differences for mental health or perceived stress. The major part of observed associations was lost after adjustment for effects of life-style.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data speak against a direct effect of social stress on MS via psychological strain but suggest an indirect pathway via a sedentary life-style.
Frisman
Gunilla Hollman
GH
Department of Medicine and Health, Division of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-851 85 Linköping, Sweden. Gunilla.Hollman.Frisman@liu.se
Kristenson
Margareta
M
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology