Stressful life events and the metabolic syndrome: The PPP-Botnia Study

  1. Antti-Jussi Pyykkönen, MA1,
  2. Katri Räikkönen, PhD (katri.raikkonen{at}helsinki.fi)1,
  3. Tiinamaija Tuomi, MD, PhD2,3,
  4. Johan G. Eriksson, MD, PhD2,4,5,6,7,
  5. Leif Groop, MD, PhD3,8 and
  6. Bo Isomaa, MD, PhD2,9
  1. From the 1Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  2. 2Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
  3. 3Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Research Program for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  4. 4Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  5. 5National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
  6. 6Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  7. 7Vasa Central Hospital, Vasa, Finland
  8. 8Department of Clinical Sciences - Diabetes & Endocrinology, Clinical Research Center, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
  9. 9Malmska Municipal Health Care Center and Hospital, Jakobstad, Finland

    Abstract

    Objective. Stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the scant evidence available is not population-based, restricting external validity of the findings. Our aim was to test associations between stressful life events, their accumulation and the MetS in a large population-based cohort. We also tested associations between stress and the individuals components related to the MetS.

    Research Design and Methods. A population-based, random sample of 3,407 women and men aged 18--78 years residing in the Western Finland. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the ATP III and IDF criteria. Severity of 15 stressful life events pertaining to finance, work, social relationships, health and housing was self-rated.

    Results. In comparison to subjects not reporting any extremely stressful life events, those reporting work- or finance-related events had an increased odds for having the MetS. The risk was further increased according to accumulation of stressful finance-related events and to having at least three stressful life events in any of the life domains assessed. Accumulation of stressful life events was associated with insulin resistance, obesity and triglycerides. The associations were not confounded by sex, age, lifestyle or family history of diabetes.

    Conclusions. Life events perceived as stressful, particularly those related to finance and work, may signal for poor metabolic health.

    Footnotes

      • Received June 4, 2009.
      • Accepted October 20, 2009.

    This Article

    1. Published online before print October 30, 2009, doi: 10.2337/dc09-1027
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