Association between stressful life events and non-optimal lipid levels among women with hyperlipidaemia.
Wan-Chin Kuo, Anne L Ersig, Heather M Johnson and 5 others
PMID 35714051WHAT IT FOUND
Stressful life events were not associated with non-optimal lipid levels after adjustment for demographics and social contexts overall.
In women with hyperlipidemia, they remained associated; in men, they did not.
Key findings
01After adjustment for demographics and social contexts, the association between number of stressful life events and non-optimal lipid levels was not significant (OR=1.25; 95% CI=[0.99,1.58]; p=0.067).
02In women with hyperlipidemia, more stressful life events were associated with non-optimal lipid levels after adjustment for health risk factors and demographics and social contexts (OR=1.45; 95% CI=[1.04,2.02]; p=0.030).
03In men with hyperlipidemia, the association between number of stressful life events and non-optimal lipid levels was not significant across the models.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was observational, so it cannot show that stressful life events caused non-optimal lipid levels. It was a secondary analysis of existing data, and the sample size was not pre-determined. The overall association was not significant after adjustment for demographics and social contexts, and the women-only finding was a subgroup result. The gender interaction was not significant. Important confounders were not measured, including dietary patterns, adherence to lipid-lowering medications, and years of hyperlipidemia. Severe hyperlipidemia was grouped with other non-optimal lipid levels, and genetic or family history information was not available. Stressful life events were self-reported for the past 12 months, which may not capture actual stressfulness at the time or recovery. The sample was mostly White (218 of 245 participants), so results may not generalise to other racial or ethnic groups. 21 of 245 participants were excluded for missing covariate data.
Declared interests
The authors indicated no conflicts of interest. The supplied publication types list non-U.S. Government and N.I.H. extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that stressful life events cause non-optimal lipid levels. The study was observational, the overall association was not significant after adjustment for demographics and social contexts, and the women-only result came from a subgroup analysis.