Perceived stress and cardiovascular disease in a community-based population

Background: Perceived stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Their associations with CVDs in the Chinese population are less investigated. The present study aims to investigate the associations of perceived stress with well-defined CVDs in a population-based survey in Shenzhen, China. Methods: In the community-based survey, we recruited 2,287 participants aged 18 years and over from 8 communities in Shenzhen, China. Perceived stress was assessed using the modified Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale with 14 items and a five-point Likert scale. CVDs including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation were ascertained from electronic health records and confirmed by family physicians. Potential confounders included age, sex, educational attainment, occupation, smoking, and alcohol-drinking habits. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to estimate the magnitude of the associations. Results: Overall, the average perceived stress score was 37.2 (standard error: 7.2 and range: 14–70) among the participants. The prevalence of CVDs was 2.7%. After controlling for age, sex, educational attainment, occupation, smoking, and alcohol-drinking habits, a higher perceived stress score was significantly associated with higher risks of CVDs (odds ratio [OR]: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.55). The associations were comparable among men (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.01–1.43) and women (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.02–1.63). We also examined the potential nonlinear relationship using restricted cubic spines and found that the relationship was almost linear. Conclusions: Our analysis showed that higher perceived stress was associated with higher risks of CVDs among adults. Future studies are warranted to clarify the biological mechanisms and shed light on these associations.