Lipid-lowering medication use and aggression scores in women: a report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychosocial Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Coronary angiography is a key diagnostic tool for women with suspected myocardial ischemia.
• Psychosocial factors like aggression and depression can influence cardiovascular health.
• The role of lipid-lowering medication in modulating psychosocial responses in women with heart disease is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between lipid-lowering medication use and psychosocial indices in women undergoing coronary angiography.
• To determine if medication for high cholesterol affects aggressive responding, hostility, cynicism, or depression.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 498 women from the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study.
• Assessment of psychosocial factors using the Cook Medley Hostility questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
• Comparison of psychosocial scores between women on and not on lipid-lowering medication, with adjustments for covariates.

Main Results:

• Women on lipid-lowering medication were older and had more comorbidities (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, CAD).
• Significantly higher aggressive responding scores were observed in women using lipid-lowering medication (p < 0.003), persisting after adjustments.
• No significant differences in hostility, cynicism, or depression scores were found based on lipid-lowering medication use.

Conclusions:

• Lipid-lowering medication use in women undergoing coronary angiography is associated with higher aggressive responding.
• This association remains significant even after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors and extent of coronary artery disease.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the link between lipid-lowering drugs and aggressive behavior in this population.