Psychosocial risk factors and heart failure hospitalization: a prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Prospective studies on the role of psychosocial factors in heart failure development are virtually nonexistent. The authors aimed to address the effect of psychosocial factors on the risk of heart failure hospitalization in men and women free of cardiovascular disease. In 1991-1993, the 8,670 participants of the Copenhagen City Heart Study (Denmark) were asked comprehensive questions on major life events, work-related stress, social network, vital exhaustion, and sleep medication and were followed in nationwide registries until 2007, with less than 0.2% loss to follow-up. Almost one-fourth of the population reported some degree of vital exhaustion. The vital exhaustion score was associated with a higher risk of heart failure in a dose-response manner (P <0.002), with high vital exhaustion being associated with a 2-fold higher risk of heart failure in both men (hazard ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.20, 3.10) and women (hazard ratio = 2.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.80, 3.65). Contrary to expectation, major life events, social network, and sleeping medication did not play an individual role for heart failure hospitalization. Because of the high prevalence of vital exhaustion in the population, even a modestly higher risk of heart failure associated with vital exhaustion may be of importance in the planning of future preventive strategies for heart failure.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology
Volume174
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)672-80
Number of pages9
ISSN0002-9262
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Failure
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Questionnaires
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Urban Population
  • Young Adult

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