Chronic stress, often stemming from everyday life, may have a lasting impact on heart health, potentially leading to cardiovascular damage and a shorter lifespan. This finding comes from a comprehensive study involving nearly 480,000 adults in the UK, led by researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London, marking it as the largest investigation of its kind to date.
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The study indicates that chronic inflammation, influenced by lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, can result in significant changes to the heart's structure. This inflammation has been associated with a 43% increase in the risk of heart attack and stroke among those in the highest inflammation group compared to those in the lowest.
Professor Declan O'Regan, Chair of Cardiovascular AI at Imperial College London, highlighted that millions may suffer from undetected inflammation that gradually alters their heart, heightening the risk of severe cardiovascular events. He noted the complex relationship between chronic inflammation and health, driven by various lifestyle and economic determinants.
Chronic inflammation is characterized by the immune system's prolonged activation, which can lead to several ailments, including heart disease. Researchers utilized blood markers, particularly glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), alongside heart imaging and genetic data, to assess inflammation in participants.
Additionally, those with higher inflammation levels exhibited physical changes in the heart, such as thicker walls and smaller chambers, which can persist unnoticed for years before developing into heart failure. The study also found correlations between elevated inflammation and socioeconomic challenges, psychological distress, as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors like smoking and obesity.
Notably, individuals with consistently high inflammation levels showed an increased cardiovascular risk even without prior heart disease. These results suggest a biological pathway illustrating how daily life pressures, including poverty and mental health issues, can exacerbate cardiovascular risk through inflammation.
Professor O'Regan emphasized the considerable influence of social factors and mental health on inflammation-related heart damage, alongside well-known risks like physical inactivity. Genetic predispositions also play a role, but he affirmed that such factors do not guarantee heart disease, as there remain opportunities to mitigate inflammation and reduce risk.
The researchers identified inflammatory proteins from the interleukin-1 and TNF families as potential contributors to heart damage. As some of these proteins are being targeted in clinical trials, anti-inflammatory treatments may offer preventative strategies for cardiovascular diseases before symptoms arise.
The study advocates for the use of inflammation blood tests in conjunction with genetic risk assessments to identify individuals who may benefit from early intervention. Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, reiterated that while inflammation is part of the body’s healing process, it can also have detrimental effects, highlighting the need for further investigation and lifestyle interventions to mitigate these risks.
The study received funding from the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation, with additional support from the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre.