Influence of prolonged stress on risk factors for cerebrovascular disease

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of psychologica l and socio-economic factors on the frequency and characteristics of risk f actors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) among Croatians. A group of 120 ro ar sufferers with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and adaptation di sturbances have been studied, and compared with a control group of 120 pers ons with no traumatic war experience. The risk factors for CVD were registe red using epidemiological, clinical and functional measures, and level of t he risk Ina displaced persons group a significant higher rates (p < 0.05) o f arterial hypertension (AH), hyperlipidemia and obesity are found with par ticularly higher rates of occurrence of AH and hyperlipidemia in younger in dividuals. Alcoholism was more frequent in the control group. Total risk fo r stroke was higher in the exposed group. The authors conclude that there i s a need for undertaking intensive preventive measures in the risk populati on exposed to chronic stress and negative socioeconomic life conditions.