Objective:

To investigate the association between psychological stress and cardiovascular parameters in cardiology outpatients, specifically distinguishing between ongoing (present) and past (previous) stress.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• 55% of patients reported psychological stress: 39% with present stress and 16% with previous stress.
• Present stress was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = 3.0 ± 0.9 mmHg, p = 0.001).
• Previous stress was not significantly associated with DBP.
• The association between present stress and DBP was stronger in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (β = 5.9 ± 2.4 mmHg, p = 0.01).

Interpretation:

Psychological stress is prevalent among cardiology outpatients and has distinct hemodynamic correlates based on its timing, with ongoing stress linked to higher DBP, suggesting a need for routine assessment in clinical practice.

Limitations:

• The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences.
• Stress assessment relied on clinical interviews, which may introduce bias.
• Consideration of sample size and demographic diversity may enhance the findings.

Conclusion:

Routine assessment of psychological stress may enhance cardiovascular risk stratification in outpatient practice.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.