Ischemia cardiaca e Psicosomatica: ruolo di eventi stressanti e stili di vita Heart ischemia and psychosomatics: the role of stressful events and lifestyles

Heart ischemia and psychosomatics: the role of stressful events and lifestyles. M.G. Guarneri, L. Nastri, P. Assennato, A. Li Puma, A. Landi, B. Bonanno, G.B. Maggi, G. Annino, F. Bono, D. La Barbera. Objective: the aim of our study was to evaluate the role of stressful events, lifestyles and various socio-environmen- tal factors in the beginning of ischemic cardiac diseases, to- gether with cardiovascular factors. Materials and methods: 64 patients with recent cardiac ischemia and 64 controls matched 1:1, according to their sex and age, have been evaluated. The study required the filling in of clinico-anamnestic reports and the evaluation of stress- ful events, using the Holmes Rahe scale. Results: in the 44% of the patients who had a heart is- chemia, an emotional striking event occurred few days be- fore, with a 28% incidence of work and family problems. The mean score of the Holmes Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale was statistically significantly higher among cases (p<0,05). The percentage of the subjects who experi- enced a stressful event during the last year was significantly higher among those with an ischemic event even though the heart disease factors were similar in the 2 groups of cases and controls. Conclusions: although the known heart risk factors predis- pose to ischemic event, our results suggest that stressful and emotional factors play a fundamental role in increasing the risk.