The interaction between systemic inflammation and psychosocial stress in the association with cardiac troponin elevation: a new approach to risk assessment and disease prevention

Lazzarino, A. I., Hamer, M., Gaze, D., Collinson, P., Rumley, A., Lowe, G. and Steptoe, A. (2016) The interaction between systemic inflammation and psychosocial stress in the association with cardiac troponin elevation: a new approach to risk assessment and disease prevention. Preventive Medicine, 93, pp. 46-52. (doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.09.018) (PMID:27663429) (PMCID:PMC5126095)

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Abstract

We have previously shown that there is a complex and dynamic biological interaction between acute mental stress and acute release of inflammatory factors into the blood stream in relation to heart disease. We now hypothesize that the presence of chronic psychosocial stress may modify the weight of single test results for inflammation as a predictor of heart disease. Using a cross-sectional design, 500 participants free from heart disease drawn from the Whitehall II study in UK in 2006–2008 were tested for plasma fibrinogen as an inflammatory factor, financial strain as a marker of chronic psychosocial stress, coronary calcification measured using computed tomography, and for plasma high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (HS-CTnT) as a marker of cardiac risk. Fibrinogen concentration levels above the average were associated with a 5-fold increase in the odds of HS-CTnT positivity only among individuals with financial strain (N = 208, OR = 4.73, 95%CI = 1.67 to 13.40, P = 0.003). Fibrinogen was in fact not associated with HS-CTnT positivity in people without financial strain despite the larger size of that subsample (n = 292, OR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.42 to 1.67, P = 0.622). A test for interaction on the full sample (N = 500) showed a P value of 0.010 after adjusting for a range of demographics, health behaviours, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, psychosocial stressors, inflammatory cytokines, and coronary calcification. In conclusion, elevated fibrinogen seems to be cardio-toxic only when is combined with financial strain. Chronic psychosocial stress may modify the meaning that we should give to single test results for inflammation. Further research is needed to confirm our results.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was supported by the British Heart Foundation (grant code RG/10/005/28296), United Kingdom.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Rumley, Dr Ann and Lowe, Professor Gordon
Authors: Lazzarino, A. I., Hamer, M., Gaze, D., Collinson, P., Rumley, A., Lowe, G., and Steptoe, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Preventive Medicine
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0091-7435
ISSN (Online):1096-0260
Published Online:20 September 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Preventive Medicine 93: 46-52
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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