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Longitudinal association between positive affect and blood lipids in patients following acute myocardial infarction
Mary Princip1, Roland von Känel1, Sinthujan Sivakumar1
1Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Insights
Positive affect (PA) in myocardial infarction (MI) patients is linked to better blood lipid profiles, specifically higher HDL-C and lower TC/HDL-C ratios, over a year post-MI.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Unfavorable blood lipid profiles are key predictors of atherosclerotic disease.
- Positive affect (PA) has been linked to improved lipid profiles.
- Longitudinal data on PA and lipid profiles in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the association between PA and blood lipid levels.
- To examine changes in PA and lipid profiles over 12 months post-acute MI.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 190 MI patients was assessed at admission, 3 months, and 12 months.
- Linear mixed-effects regression models analyzed the relationship between PA (Global Mood Scale) and lipid levels.
- Demographic, clinical, and behavioral confounders were controlled.
Main Results:
- Higher PA correlated with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lower total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio.
- These associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple factors.
- No significant association was found between PA and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) or triglycerides (TG).
Conclusions:
- Positive affect is independently associated with favorable HDL-C levels and TC/HDL-C ratio in MI patients up to one year post-event.
- PA may play a role in cardiovascular health by influencing blood lipid profiles.
Objective:
Unfavorable blood lipid profiles are robust risk factors in predicting atherosclerotic disease. Studies have shown that positive affect (PA) is associated with a favorable lipid profile. However, longitudinal studies regarding the course of PA and lipid profiles in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to prospectively explore the association between PA and blood lipid levels across three inv estigations over 12 months following acute MI.
Methods:
Patients following an acute MI were examined at hospital admission (n = 190), and at 3 months (n = 154) and 12 months (n = 106) thereafter. Linear mixed effect regression models were used to evaluate the relation between PA, assessed with the Global Mood Scale, and blood lipid levels. Potential confounding variables were controlled for in the analysis.
Results:
Higher PA was significantly associated with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and a lower total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio over time, independent of demographic factors, indices of cardiac disease severity, comorbidity, medication use, health behaviors, serum cortisol and negative affect (p≤0.040). No association was found between PA and the two blood lipids low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG).
Conclusions:
Positive affect was independently associated with HDL-C levels and the TC/HDL-C ratio in patients up to 1 year after MI. The findings support a potential role of PA for cardiovascular health through an association with a favorable blood lipid profile.
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