Abstract
Background and Objectives: Some studies have shown that acute and chronic psychological stressors are associated with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The aim of the present study was to assess the association between acute and chronic psychological stressors and ACS in an Iranian population.
Method: In an age-sex frequency-matched, case-control study, 78 hospitalized patients with ACS as the case group were compared with 146 patients with chronic stable angina (CSA) as the control group. Chronic stable angina was confirmed by positive angiographic findings. Acute stressors were examined through a semistructured interview and the acute life event checklist, regarding stressful events during 48 hours before interview. To assess chronic stress, the occurrence of 46 stressful events in a period of 6 months prior to the interview was examined using the stress inventory questionnaire.
Results: The average acute stressor counts were 4.80 (SD, 2.87) and 3.97 (SD, 2.2) in ACS and CSA groups, respectively (P = .028). Chronic stressor counts were 9.91 (SD, 5.86) and 6.58 (SD, 3.16) in case and control groups (<.001), respectively. Odds ratios for acute and chronic stressor counts were 1.14 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02-1.28) and 1.84 (95% CI, 1.10-1.26), respectively; when the associations were adjusted for traditional risk factors, they become 1.12 (95% CI, 0.99-1.27) and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.10-1.30), respectively.
Conclusion: Acute stress did not contribute significantly in the models including chronic stress. Acute stressful events in the recent 48 hours, independent of traditional risk factors, can have a triggering effect on ACS occurrence. Nevertheless, this happens in the context of high chronic stress. In addition, chronic stress count was moderately associated with ACS even when it was adjusted for traditional risk factors (ALEACE study).