Role of psycho-social stress as a risk factor for coronary artery disease: A case control study among the people of Rajkot District

BACKGROUND: CAD is a multifactorial disease. Since ancient time stress is claimed as one of the major risk factor of CAD. Not all the cases of CAD can explain their etiology on the basis conventional risk factors like, high blood sugar, hypertension, obesity, smoking etc. The study was done to know the role of psychosocial stress and acute life events as a risk factor of CAD. Objective: to assess the role of stress as a risk factor for CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study was designed as a case control study. 130 cases and 130 controls were included in the study. The cases were taken from the PDU Govt. Medical college hospital Rajkot and the controls were from the community of Rajkot district area. Detailed history, examination and scoring were applied with the help of standard pretested questionnaire. The results were analysed using X2 and Z test. RESULTS: Mean age for CAD was found 53.43 years. Male female ratio was 4:1. Mean psychosocial stress among cases of CAD was 28.05 which is more than controls (Z=14.02, P < 0.01). Acute stressful life event were more frequent among cases of CAD (mean events = 1.29, Z=7.8, P < 0.01). Other factors found significant role in causation were obesity, sedentary life style, hypertension and diabetes. CONCLUSION: It is found that psychosocial stress is a risk factor for CAD.