Artery Research

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Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2013, Pages 60 - 66

Gender as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety and carotid intima-media thickness: The PREVENCION study

Authors
Diana A. Chirinosa, *, e, Belissa Salinas-Najarrob, e, Roberto Paz-Manriqueb, e, Zubair Khanc, e, Waheed Rajac, e, Francisco Ibañezb, e, Fernando Corrales-Medinaa, e, Humberto Zea-Diazb, e, Julio A. Chirinosc, d, e, Josefina Medina-Lezamab, e
aUniversity of Miami, FL, USA
bSanta Maria Catholic University Research Institute, Arequipa, Peru
cUniversity of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
dPhiladelphia VA Medical Center, USA
e

On behalf of the PREVENCION Investigators.

*Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751, USA. Tel.: +1 305 284 2687. E-mail address: dchirinos-medina@psy.miami.edu (D.A. Chirinos).
Corresponding Author
Diana A. Chirinos
Received 26 July 2012, Revised 30 September 2012, Accepted 5 November 2012, Available Online 26 November 2012.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.11.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Anxiety; Carotid intima–media thickness; Andean Hispanics; Cardiovascular disease; Latin America
Abstract

Background: Previous studies regarding the association of atherosclerotic risk and anxiety have yielded conflicting results. Carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. We aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and cIMT in Andean Hispanics and examine the moderating effects of gender in this relationship.

Methods: We studied 496 adults enrolled in a population-based study in Peru. cIMT was measured with high-resolution ultrasonography. Anxiety levels were assessed with the HADS anxiety score.

Results: Median anxiety scores were 6 (IQR = 4–8) in men and 8 (IQR = 5–11) in women. We found a significant moderating effect of gender on the association between the HADS anxiety score and cIMT. Among men, the HADS anxiety score was significantly associated with cIMT (β = 0.15; P = 0.004) after adjusting for age, education, employment status, SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, diabetes mellitus, smoking and LDL cholesterol. Other significant predictors of cIMT in men were age (β = 0.60; P < 0.001), SBP (β = 0.16; P = 0.023) and diabetes mellitus (β = 0.12; P = 0.033). The model explained 54% of the population variability in cIMT. The HADS anxiety score was not associated with cIMT in women.

Conclusions: We found an important moderating effect of gender in the relationship between anxiety and subclinical atherosclerosis. Anxiety was independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis among Andean Hispanic men, whereas no relationship was found among women. Further studies are required to assess the mechanistic determinants of this association and assess whether interventions to decrease anxiety levels retard the progression of early, subclinical atherosclerosis.

Copyright
© 2012 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
7 - 1
Pages
60 - 66
Publication Date
2012/11/26
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.11.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2012 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Diana A. Chirinos
AU  - Belissa Salinas-Najarro
AU  - Roberto Paz-Manrique
AU  - Zubair Khan
AU  - Waheed Raja
AU  - Francisco Ibañez
AU  - Fernando Corrales-Medina
AU  - Humberto Zea-Diaz
AU  - Julio A. Chirinos
AU  - Josefina Medina-Lezama
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/11/26
TI  - Gender as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety and carotid intima-media thickness: The PREVENCION study
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 60
EP  - 66
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2012.11.001
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2012.11.001
ID  - Chirinos2012
ER  -