Psychosocial variables in female vs male patients with stable angina pectoris and matched healthy controls

Aim This study was set up to evaluate psychosocial risk factors in patients with stable angina pectoris, with particular attention to gender differences, as this has previously been studied mainly in relation to myocardial infarction in males. Material Seven hundred and sixty-seven patients (236 women) were studied. They were selected from the 809 patients included in the Angina Prognosis Study in Stockholm (APSIS), and 50 matched healthy subjects. Method Data were gathered by structured psychosocial interviews on inclusion into the APSIS study. Results Patients with stable angina pectoris experienced significantly more stressful events, and suffered more frequently from disturbed and psychosomatic symptoms than healthy controls. At work they experienced less skill discretion and less control. The patients had higher rating scores for hostility and lower levels of self-rated overall well-being. With regard to gender differences, women were more likely to suffer from the strain of work, psychosomatic symptoms, disturbed sleep and stressful events than male patients. Females rated less type A-behaviour and hostility than males. Conclusions These findings suggest that previously known psychosocial risk factors for acute myocardial infarction are more common in patients with stable angina pectoris than in controls, and differ between female and male patients.