[Heart ischemia and psychosomatics: the role of stressful events and lifestyles].
OBJECTIVE
the aim of our study was to evaluate the role of stressful events, lifestyles and various socio-environmental factors in the beginning of ischemic cardiac diseases, together with cardiovascular factors.


METHODS
64 patients with recent cardiac ischemia and 64 controls matched 1:1, according to their sex and age, have been evaluated. The study required the filling in of clinico-anamnestic reports and the evaluation of stressful events, using the Holmes Rahe scale.


RESULTS
in the 44% of the patients who had a heart ischemia, an emotional striking event occurred few days before, with a 28% incidence of work and family problems. The mean score of the Holmes Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale was statistically significantly higher among cases (p<0,05). The percentage of the subjects who experienced a stressful event during the last year was significantly higher among those with an ischemic event even though the heart disease factors were similar in the 2 groups of cases and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
although the known heart risk factors predispose to ischemic event, our results suggest that stressful and emotional factors play a fundamental role in increasing the risk.
Guarneri
Maurizio Giuseppe
MG
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Sezione di Psichiatria, via La Loggia, 1 Palermo, Italy.
Nastri
Laura
L
Assennato
Pasquale
P
Li Puma
Angela
A
Landi
Arianna
A
Bonanno
Barbara
B
Maggì
Giovan Battista
GB
Annino
Giuseppe
G
Bono
Filippa
F
La Barbera
Daniele
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000523:psychology*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological