Cor Vasa 2011, 53(6-7):381-384 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2011.092

Psychosocial factors as potential risk factors for sudden cardiac death

Eliška Sovová^1,2,*, Kateřina Ivanová^3,4, Jana Ondrušková¹, Dalibor Pastucha²

¹ I. interní klinika - kardiologická

² Klinika tělovýchovného lékařství a kardiovaskulární rehabilitace, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc a Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého

³ Ústav sociálního lékařství a zdravotní politiky, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého

⁴ Ústav zdravotnického managementu, Fakulta zdravotnických věd Univerzity Palackého, Olomouc, Česká republika

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the Czech Republic. Sudden cardiac death is defined as death from natural causes occurring within one hour of the onset of symptoms. Efforts to reduce rates of sudden cardiac death require the identification of patients with risk factors for sudden cardiac death. These can be divided into pathophysiological and psychosocial factors (i.e., lifestyle ones). Psychosocial and socioeconomic factors play a major role in the incidence of sudden cardiac death and survival rates. The factors can be subdivided into depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, anger and hostility, personality characteristics, social bonds, support, social conflict, acute and chronic life-related stress. The authors report the latest concepts regarding the effects of individual risk factors on the incidence of sudden cardiac death. Given its societal implications and costs related to sudden cardiac death, the issue should be addressed consistently. No conclusive tests and strategies are currently available to identify and stratify, in the general population, individuals at risk of sudden cardiac death. Primary prevention of sudden cardiac death should focus on established risk factors including the psychosocial ones.

Keywords: Sudden cardiac death; Psychosocial factors; Socioeconomic factors

Published: June 1, 2011  Show citation