Psychosocial cardiovascular risk factors

Overview

Low socio-ecomic status, in the Czech Republic determined above all by achieved only basic education, lack of social support, stress at work and in family life, hostility, type D („distressed“) personality, depression and anxiety increase the risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) disease and worsen its prognosis. Psychosocial factors act as bariers to health promotion and lifestyle improvement and decrease prevention and treatment adherence. They are associated, especially low socio-economic status, with increased prevalence of classical CV risk factors. The differences in prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, e.g. according to education, are more pronounced in factors due to unhealthy life style (smoking, obesity, less physical aktivity and less pronounced in „treatable“ factors (high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia) and increased recently. Searching for and control of classical CV risk factors is in persons with low socio-economic status fundamental and substantially improves their prognosis. Control of psychosocial stress and treatment of depression and anxiety improves quality of life and facilitates behavioural change, the evidence, that they prevent CV disease and improve outcomes is still inconclusive. Nevertheless, in our patients we should search actively for psychosocial risk factors and try to control them, though it involves time, empathy and often team collaboration.

Keywords:

anxiosity – cardiovascular risk – depression – low socio-economic status – psychosocial factors – socio-economic factors