Psychosocial risk factors for the metabolic syndrome: A prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Metabolic deregulations and development of metabolic syndrome may be an important pathway underlying the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disease. We aim to estimate the effect of a comprehensive range of psychosocial factors on the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in men and women.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 3621 men and women from the Copenhagen City Heart Study who were free of metabolic syndrome at baseline and reexamined after 10years. The data was analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, education, income, menopausal status and life style factors.


RESULTS
We found major life events in adult life (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.93 to 2.36) and major life events at work (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.50), lacking a confidant (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.53) and dissatisfaction with social network (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.11) to be risk factors for developing the metabolic syndrome in women, while vital exhaustion (OR 2.09, 95% CI 0.95 to 4.59) and intake of sleep medications (OR 2.54, 95% CI 0.92 to 5.96) may play a more important role in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Experiencing major life events in work and adult life and/or dysfunctional social networks is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in women, and stress reactions such as vital exhaustion and intake of sleep medications may play a more important role in the development of metabolic syndrome men.
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: jope@sund.ku.dk.
Jolene Masters
JM
Pedersen
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rikke
R
Lund
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ingelise
I
Andersen
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Alice Jessie
AJ
Clark
Department of Cardiology, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Eva
E
Prescott
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Naja Hulvej
NH
Rod
D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism
Major life events; Metabolic syndrome; Psychosocial factors; Social network; Stress; Vital exhaustion