Jornal de Biomarcadores Moleculares e Diagnóstico

Candidate Biomarkers to Evaluate the Association between Psychosocial Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Hanène Ayari* and Marianne Zelle

The association between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular diseases had been suggested. This review was performed to assess, from literature data, the pertinence of using new biomarkers in the occurrence or prognosis of cardiovascular diseases in a psychosocial context. We choose to consider wide-ranging descriptions of stress from psychological factors (occupational stress, financial strain, marital stress, social isolation, etc.) that may influence a physical health outcome (cardiovascular diseases).We addressed literature data confirming the link between candidate biomarkers (such as cortisol, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and allostatic load) and cardiovascular diseases in a context of psychosocial factors. It was shown a link between cortisol, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the incidence or prognosis of cardiovascular diseases in a psychosocial context. Allostatic load index was also identified as a pertinent tool in the assessment of the cumulative psychosocial factors burden exerted on the body.