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Biomedical subjects

J Siegrist

Publications and source records attributed to J Siegrist.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Prevalence of sleep apnea in healthy industrial workers.

The present study reports on polysomnographic findings of sleep apnea syndrome in a representative sample of otherwise healthy middle-aged blue collar workers (age 45.7 +/- 8.5) with normal to borderline blood pressure (systolic 135.5 +/- 16.1; diastolic: 88.3 +/- 10.2), mild overweight (Broca 114.9 +/- 14.7) and with reported nocturnal sleep disturbances. The prevalence of sleep apnea in this sample (N = 20 out of a total of 78 workers with reported sleep disturbances) is 40%. Mean frequency of apnoeic episodes during night was 97.6 +/- 42.7 in the apnea-positive group as compared to 27.1 +/- 19.9 in the apnea-negative group (T = 5.0; p less than 0.0001), with an apnea index of 13.3 +/- 6.2 as compared to 3.5 +/- 2.3 (T = 7.2, p less than 0.0001). Left ventricular hypertrophy (mean diameter of end diastolic left ventricle: 64.0 +/- 9.5 mm) was found in individuals with apnea although manifest hypertension was absent in most individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Threat to social status and cardiovascular risk.

An approach focusing on the detrimental role of fundamental threats to one's social status for cardiovascular pathology is briefly outlined. Recent findings of epidemiologic studies in humans and experimental studies in monkeys are interpreted in this framework. Results of a large retrospective case-control study on 380 male patients with clinically documented first acute myocardial infarction (AMI), aged 30-55, and matched controls show a significantly higher percentage of subjects experiencing occupational downward mobility, forced occupational change, and recent cut-down in personnel combined with increased work load in the patient group. Finally, first results of an ongoing prospective study on blue-collar workers are presented indicating predictive power of these social stressors for new AMI cases if combined with indicators of a critically lowered coping threshold.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Social factors in the etiology of chronic disease: an overview.

Our intention in this introductory article is to emphasize what we consider to be certain critical points in the current state of research into the social epidemiology of chronic disease. As will be outlined, these critical points need to be considered in future research. To begin with we provide a mild critique of research in this area which has had its tradition specified by social epidemiology, a term which has recently come into favor to describe research concerned with social factors in the etiology of chronic disease. Next we briefly summarize critical available evidence on an etiological relationship between social factors and cardiovascular disease, cancer and multiple disease outcomes. Following this a major emphasis will be placed on issues which directly relate to problems of methodology in social factors assessment. Finally, an emphasis will be given to the critical question of mechanisms which need to be clarified in this type of multivariate research.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1982

The social context of active distress in patients with early myocardial infarction.

Data of a retrospective case control study on 380 male patients with clinically documented first myocardial infarction (MI) (age 30-55) as well as findings of a follow-up over 18 months of 70% of this sample are presented. Results show first, that specific work stressors, lack of social support, and acute life changes are each significantly more prevalent among subjects with MI than among healthy controls; second, that significantly greater parts of MI subjects can be classified as simultaneously exposed to several chronic and acute social risks; third, that social stressors are related to the recurrence of cardiac symptoms in a follow-up after rehabilitation. These findings are discussed with regard to possible methodological bias such as the role of denial and neuroticism in patients under study, influences caused by interviewers, and limited validity of subjective stress rating. After controlling for these biases, findings basically remain stable. It is argued that a certain class of critical socio-emotional experiences, labeled 'active distress' may be harmful to neurohormonal imbalance, and, consequently, to several precursors of cardiovascular diseases. This class of experiences is reinforced and sustained by social contexts as the ones investigated in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Interpersonal repression as a predictor of cancer.

This paper examines the possible relationship between two specific styles of interactive behavior which reflect active and passive coping with stressful experiences, and attendant illness susceptibility. In a longitudinal study of 1353 inhabitants of a Yugoslav town from 1965 to 1975 data show that being a passive receiver of repression is associated with subsequent incidence of cancer. Being an active emitter of interpersonal repression is found more commonly among subjects who experience cardiovascular and other circulatory diseases later on. Data are presented and discussed in the framework of recent findings in environmental physiology, neuroendocrinology and psychosomatics.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The role of psychosocial risks in patients with early myocardial infarction.

Results of a retrospective case-control study on 380 male patients with clinically documented first myocardial infarction (age 30-55) as well as findings of a follow-up over 18 months of 70% of this sample are presented. First, the presence of somatic risk factors and in a subsample of 53 patients, degree of atherosclerosis as demonstrated by coronary angiography are documented. Second, the role of possible additional risks due to higher nervous activity, and especially to neurohormonal imbalance, is explored by analyzing psychosocial risk constellations of the MI group vs. healthy controls. It is shown that significantly greater parts of MI subjects can be classified as simultaneously exposed to several chronic and acute social risks and that social stressors are related to the recurrence of cardiac symptoms in a follow-up after rehabilitation. Findings are discussed with reference to evidence from prospective studies, and the question of validity of reported data is addressed to by controlling for possible methodological bias such as the role of denial and neuroticism in patients under study and influences caused by interviewers. It can be demonstrated that findings basically remained stable after controlling for these biases. Finally, additional evidence for the validity of subjective stress rating is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Towards a cognition - performance model of coronary - prone behavior.

The extent of coronary-prone behavior (CPB) is partially dependent upon specific, contextual characteristics of the work setting. Specific work demands reinforce a style of unrealistic cognitive appraisal which is thought to form a significant part of CPB. In order to test this assumption in a first step, we developed a questionnaire measuring this notion more appropriately than the well known tests of CPB (JAS, Bortner). Preliminary results of an experimental psychophysiologic study on the basis of this instrument are presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Coronary heart disease: psychosocial aspects of its prevention].

The paper presents results of a retrospective study on 380 male patients (age 30-55) with first myocardial infarction (MI) following a rehabilitation program and 190 healthy controls matched by age, sex and occupational status. It is asked whether by simultaneous analysis of several psychosocial stress conditions related to the time before onset of MI (workload, life events, coronary prone behavior, chronic difficulties combined with loss of social support) it is possible to separate the two groups better than by analysis of somatic risk factors. The hypothesis can be verified in different ways. Findings can be substantiated by a follow-up study relating psychosocial high risks to the rate of cardiac deaths and/or recurrence of cardiac symptoms. Consequences for individual as well as global intervention and prevention are briefly discussed.

Adult↗