Role of Personality Traits in Stroke

Higher levels of stress, hostility and depressive symptoms may associate with significantly increased risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), among middle-age and older adults. Susan Everson-Rose, from the University of Minnesota (Minnesota, USA), and colleagues utilized data collected in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), involving 6749 adults, ages 45 to 84 years and free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline, conducted at 6 US sites. Subjects completed questionnaires assessing chronic stress, depressive symptoms, anger and hostility over two years. In follow-up for an additional 8.5 to 11 years, 147 strokes and 48 TIAs occurred. Compared to people with the lowest psychological scores, those with highest psychological scores were 86% more likely to have a stroke or TIA for high depressive symptoms; 59% more likely to have a stroke or TIA for the highest chronic stress scores; and more than twice as likely to have a stroke or TIA for the highest hostility scores. The study authors warn that: “Higher levels of stress, hostility, and depressive symptoms are associated with significantly increased risk of incident stroke or transient ischemic attacks in middle-aged and older adults.”