title: Somatic concerns, depressive traits, atherosclerosis and the incidence of cardiovascular disease in ageing Finnish men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of somatic concerns and depressive traits on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and on the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the cross-sectional study of 2682 Finnish men aged 42 to 61years, a subsample of 1333 men had their carotid artery IMT recorded. In the prospective part of the study participants (n=1453) were followed up for an average of 20years. Data on incident CVD (n=766) were obtained from the National Population Register. For both subsamples, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to measure depressive traits and somatic concerns. In addition, composite scales of general ill-being, sleep and pain problems, psychological well-being, energy level, and cheerfulness were formed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the final corrected models there were no significant associations between somatic concerns or depressive traits and IMT. Both somatic concerns and depressive traits predicted a higher CVD incidence after adjustments for age and risk factors. The association between depressive traits and CVD incidence was highest among the subgroup of men with the highest levels of hsCRP, but this result did not reach statistical significance. Of the composite scales, general ill-being predicted a higher CVD incidence in the fully adjusted model, even when all the composite scales were entered into the model simultaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Somatic concerns and depressive traits predict a higher CVD incidence. In particular, general ill-being contributes to this association. The association between depressive traits and CVD may be moderated by low-grade inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: tommi.tolmunen@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolmunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Soili M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Medicine, Lapland Central Hospital, P.O. Box 8041, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ronkainen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences (Psychology), University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julkunen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauhanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Cardiovascular; Carotid artery; Inflammation; MMPI; Morbidity; Personality