Negative Aspects of Social Relations Tied to Angina Risk

Negative aspects of social relations, including excessive demands and serious worries from significant others, children, or family members, appear to be risk factors for the development of angina pectoris, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
THURSDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Negative aspects of social relations, including excessive demands and serious worries from significant others, children, or family members, appear to be risk factors for the development of angina pectoris, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
During a six-year follow-up, Rikke Lund, M.D., of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and colleagues evaluated 4,573 middle-aged Danish men and women free of heart disease at baseline to assess whether the negative aspects of social relations were associated with angina pectoris.
The investigators found that 9 percent of participants experienced onset of symptoms of angina pectoris. After adjustment for age, gender, social class, cohabitation status, and depression in a dose-response manner, the investigators found that a higher degree of excessive demands or serious worries from social relations was associated with an increased risk of angina pectoris, including from a partner (odds ratio [OR], 3.53), child (OR, 2.19), or other family member (OR, 1.91). The researchers did not find any interaction of negative aspects of social relations with age, gender, cohabitation status, social class, or depression in terms of angina pectoris.