Psychosocial distress and blood pressure among young adults: role of cortisol as mediator

• Main Authors: Wan Omar, Wan Fatein Nabeila, Musa, Ramli, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Mohd Shah, Azarisman Shah, A.Talib, Norlelawati, Aung, Sithu, Abdullah, Aszrin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: QP Physiology; RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; RC667 Specialties of Internal Medicine-Diseases of Circulatory (Cardiovascular) System
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/73872/19/Psychosocial%20Distress%20and%20Blood%20Pressure%20among%20Young%20Adults.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/73872/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Introduction: Hypertension is the most prevalent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in Malaysia. 17.3% of hypertension cases in Malaysia is attributed to adults aged 18 to 39 years. Psychosocial distress is a possible risk factor for elevated blood pressure in young adults, and cortisol could be the mediating factor. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mediating role of cortisol in hypertension and psychosocial distress in young adults. Methods and materials: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 240 young adults aged 45 years or less. The body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure parameters were recorded. Serum cortisol, creatinine, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were measured following acute mental stress test. Psychosocial distress was assessed using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Results: Mean (standard deviation) values for SBP, DBP, MAP were 126.0(16.3), 84.1(12.2) and 98.1(13.1) mmHg respectively. Anxiety was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (β=0.644), diastolic blood pressure (β=0.454) and mean arterial pressure (β=0.516) after adjusting to sex, age and cortisol. However, it was not mediated by cortisol. Depression and stress were not found to have any effect on blood pressure of the young adults studied. Conclusion: The data suggests that there is no elevated risk for psychosocial distress and hypertension that cortisol poses in young adults.