Biomedical subjects

Andrew Steptoe

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew Steptoe.

93 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Psychosocial, hemostatic, and inflammatory correlates of delayed poststress blood pressure recovery.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed poststress cardiovascular recovery has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk. This study assessed relationships between systolic blood pressure (BP) recovery, psychosocial risk factors, and delayed recovery of inflammatory and hemostatic variables. METHOD: Data were analyzed from 228 middle-aged men and women from the Whitehall Psychobiology study who performed color/word and mirror-tracing tasks. Systolic BP recovery was assessed as the difference between baseline and levels recorded 40 to 45 minutes poststress. Associations were analyzed with socioeconomic markers (grade of employment, education, income), psychosocial factors (social isolation, hostility, mental health, financial strain), and recovery of heart rate, heart rate variability, von Willebrand factor, factor VIII clotting activity, plasma fibrinogen, and plasma viscosity. RESULTS: Systolic BP was on average 6.19 +/- 9.6 mm Hg higher on recovery than baseline. Delayed BP recovery was associated with lower grade of employment, lower education and lower income independently of age, gender, and systolic BP stress reactivity. Delayed BP recovery was related to social isolation and poor mental health independently of age, gender, socioeconomic position, and task reactivity. Delayed systolic BP recovery was also associated with delayed recovery in diastolic BP, heart rate, factor VIII, and plasma viscosity but not delayed heart rate variability recovery, independently of age, gender, body mass, and task reactivity. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic and psychosocial risk factors for cardiovascular disease are related to delays in poststress recovery. Delayed systolic BP recovery may be a marker for prolonged responses in hemostatic variables that have a direct influence on cardiovascular disease pathogenesis.

Biomarkers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The asthma trigger inventory: validation of a questionnaire for perceived triggers of asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma patients' perceptions of triggers have been explored in a largely unstructured fashion in the past. We therefore developed and validated a questionnaire of commonly perceived asthma triggers. METHODS: Two hundred forty-seven primary care patients with asthma filled in an asthma trigger survey together with questionnaires on demographics, asthma-relevant information, perceived control of asthma, and general health status. Factor structure of the item pool and psychometric properties of trigger subscales were evaluated. We also investigated the relationship between allergen or psychological trigger reports and allergy skin test response or respiratory impedance during emotional film viewing, respectively. RESULTS: Principal component analysis yielded six factors that were thematically associated with psychology, animal allergens, pollen allergens, physical activity, infection, and air pollution/irritants. Subscales showed good internal consistencies and low to moderately positive intercorrelations. Psychological triggers were consistently associated with less favorable health status, a reduced perception of asthma control, and greater medical treatment utilization. Animal allergen scores correlated positively with skin test responses to animal allergens. Respiratory impedance increases during emotional film clips were positively correlated with the psychological trigger subscale. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire is a reliable measure of commonly perceived asthma triggers. Aspects of patients' trigger reports reflect actual reactivity to specific trigger factors.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

International study of heavy drinking: attitudes and sociodemographic factors in university students.

The authors studied the prevalence of heavy drinking among students in 21 developed and developing countries using an anonymous survey of 7,846 male and 9,892 female students aged 17 to 30 years. There were wide variations in the prevalence of drinking among countries, and the highest rates of heavy drinking (defined as 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on at least 1 occasion over the past 2 weeks) were reported in Belgium, Colombia, Ireland, and Poland (men), and Ireland and England (women). Heavy drinking was associated with living away from home, having a wealthier family background, and having well-educated parents. Beliefs about the dangers to health of excessive consumption were negatively related to heavy drinking. Heavy drinking is a concern among students in several countries and is associated with greater affluence. Challenging beliefs concerning health risks is a crucial aspect of prevention in this population.

Adolescent↗