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Published on: June 19, 2019
Association between perceived stress and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations
Megumi Koizumi1, Yoshihiro Kaneko, Shinya Tosa
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Akita University Faculty of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Summary
Perceived stress was negatively associated with plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in a Japanese community study. This finding was independent of traditional heart disease risk factors, suggesting stress is a key factor in cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease patients often experience recurrent cardiac events despite optimal management of traditional risk factors.
- Non-traditional risk factors, such as perceived stress, are gaining attention for their potential role in heart disease.
- Understanding the interplay between psychological factors and cardiovascular markers is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between perceived stress and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations.
- To determine if this association persists after controlling for established cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- To explore potential differences in this association between genders.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 706 residents (360 male, 446 female, age >40) of a rural Japanese community.
- Data collection included a lifestyle questionnaire (perceived stress, medical history), anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, plasma BNP levels, and electrocardiograms.
- Statistical analysis employed multiple regression, adjusting for traditional heart disease risk factors, with Bonferroni's procedure for multiple comparisons.
Main Results:
- Perceived stress showed a significant association with plasma BNP concentrations, particularly in women (F=6.12, P=0.026), after adjusting for traditional risk factors.
- BNP concentrations demonstrated a decreasing trend with increasing levels of perceived stress in both men and women.
- These trends were consistent in subgroup analyses of individuals with and without pre-existing heart disease.
Conclusions:
- Perceived stress is negatively associated with plasma BNP concentrations, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
- This suggests a potential role for psychological stress as a non-traditional risk factor influencing cardiac function or stress markers.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this observed relationship and its clinical implications.
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