Abstract
Background: Posttraumatic stress is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Relatively little research, particularly among women, has documented mechanisms by which PTSD might confer CVD risk during early adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the number and relative levels of CVD risk factors are associated with posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young, trauma-exposed women. Methods: Participants were premenopausal women ages 19–49 with varying levels of posttraumatic stress and no history of chronic medical illness (n = 54), and were recruited from mental health clinics and the general community. Posttraumatic stress severity was assessed with a structured clinical interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale). The CVD risk factors assessed were lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoproteins), resting blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), no exercise in typical week, and cigarette smoking. Results: Posttraumatic stress severity was associated with lower high-density lipoprotein levels and higher triglycerides, greater systolic and diastolic BP, greater BMI, and a greater number of total CVD risk factors. Limitations: The main limitation is the limited number of participants who displayed clinical levels on some of the CVD risk factors (e.g., BP). Nonetheless, most participants exhibited more than one CVD risk factor, indicating the potential for many of the women in this relatively young sample to progress toward greater risk later in life. Conclusions: The present results support the contention that, in the absence of medical illness, posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young women is associated with several CVD risk factors early in life.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 147-153 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 241 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Cardiovascular
- Posttraumatic stress
- Women
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Cardiovascular risks in relation to posttraumatic stress severity among young trauma-exposed women. / Kibler, Jeffrey L.; Ma, Mindy; Tursich, Mischa; Malcolm, Lydia; Llabre, Maria; Greenbarg, Rachel; Gold, Steven N.; Beckham, Jean C.
In: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 241, 01.12.2018, p. 147-153.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiovascular risks in relation to posttraumatic stress severity among young trauma-exposed women
AU - Kibler, Jeffrey L.
AU - Ma, Mindy
AU - Tursich, Mischa
AU - Malcolm, Lydia
AU - Llabre, Maria
AU - Greenbarg, Rachel
AU - Gold, Steven N.
AU - Beckham, Jean C.
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - Background: Posttraumatic stress is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Relatively little research, particularly among women, has documented mechanisms by which PTSD might confer CVD risk during early adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the number and relative levels of CVD risk factors are associated with posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young, trauma-exposed women. Methods: Participants were premenopausal women ages 19–49 with varying levels of posttraumatic stress and no history of chronic medical illness (n = 54), and were recruited from mental health clinics and the general community. Posttraumatic stress severity was assessed with a structured clinical interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale). The CVD risk factors assessed were lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoproteins), resting blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), no exercise in typical week, and cigarette smoking. Results: Posttraumatic stress severity was associated with lower high-density lipoprotein levels and higher triglycerides, greater systolic and diastolic BP, greater BMI, and a greater number of total CVD risk factors. Limitations: The main limitation is the limited number of participants who displayed clinical levels on some of the CVD risk factors (e.g., BP). Nonetheless, most participants exhibited more than one CVD risk factor, indicating the potential for many of the women in this relatively young sample to progress toward greater risk later in life. Conclusions: The present results support the contention that, in the absence of medical illness, posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young women is associated with several CVD risk factors early in life.
AB - Background: Posttraumatic stress is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Relatively little research, particularly among women, has documented mechanisms by which PTSD might confer CVD risk during early adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the number and relative levels of CVD risk factors are associated with posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young, trauma-exposed women. Methods: Participants were premenopausal women ages 19–49 with varying levels of posttraumatic stress and no history of chronic medical illness (n = 54), and were recruited from mental health clinics and the general community. Posttraumatic stress severity was assessed with a structured clinical interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale). The CVD risk factors assessed were lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoproteins), resting blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), no exercise in typical week, and cigarette smoking. Results: Posttraumatic stress severity was associated with lower high-density lipoprotein levels and higher triglycerides, greater systolic and diastolic BP, greater BMI, and a greater number of total CVD risk factors. Limitations: The main limitation is the limited number of participants who displayed clinical levels on some of the CVD risk factors (e.g., BP). Nonetheless, most participants exhibited more than one CVD risk factor, indicating the potential for many of the women in this relatively young sample to progress toward greater risk later in life. Conclusions: The present results support the contention that, in the absence of medical illness, posttraumatic stress symptom severity among young women is associated with several CVD risk factors early in life.
KW - Cardiovascular
KW - Posttraumatic stress
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051555993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051555993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.007
M3 - Article
VL - 241
SP - 147
EP - 153
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
ER -