Mental vulnerability—a risk factor for ischemic heart disease

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to examine whether mental vulnerability is a risk factor for the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) after adjustment for well-established risk factors.MethodsIn three prospective cohort studies in Copenhagen County, Denmark, we recorded the level of mental vulnerability and possible risk factors to IHD at baseline. For follow-up, the sample was linked to relevant registries to identify all cases of fatal and nonfatal IHD. The relationship between mental vulnerability and IHD was examined using both Kaplan–Meir and Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for possible confounding factors.ResultsMental vulnerability was significantly associated with the risk for IHD (medium mental vulnerability: hazard ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.91; and high mental vulnerability: hazard ratio 2.05; 95% confidence interval 1.46–2.88), after adjusting for confounders.ConclusionOur results imply that mental vulnerability is an independent risk factor for IHD.