Arterial hypertension in the Arctic: the role of stress and autonomic dysfunction, gender differences

• Main Authors: A. S. Vetoshkin, N. P. Shurkevich, A. A. Simonyan, L. I. Gapon, M. A. Kareva, A. M. Semerikova, А. С. Ветошкин, Н. П. Шуркевич, А. А. Симонян, Л. И. Гапон, М. А. Карева, А. М. Семерикова
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: TSU publishing 2024
• Subjects: Арктика; autonomic dysfunction; inflammation; arterial hypertension; Arctic; вегетативная дисфункция; воспаление; артериальная гипертония; Yamburg
• Online Access: https://www.sibjcem.ru/jour/article/view/2188; https://doi.org/10.29001/2073-8552-2024-39-1-83-93

Introduction. Psychological stress and autonomic dysfunction are recognized as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but they affect cardiovascular risk differently in men and women.Aim: To study gender differences in factors influencing the probability of detecting arterial hypertension (AH) from the perspective of the role of stress, autonomic dysfunction and nonspecific inflammation in rotational shift workers in the Arctic region.Material and Methods. In the medical unit of the gas production company “Gazprom dobycha Yamburg” (polar settlement of Yamburg, 68°21’40”N) we simultaneously examined 99 men and 81 women with AH 1,2 degree of AH and normotensive persons comparable in age (p = 0.450), work experience in the Arctic (p = 0.956), number of years of rotational shift work (p = 0.824), level of office systolic (SBP) (p = 0.251) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.579). Questionnaires were used to determine the level of general stress (PSM25 scale), occupational stress (Vaisman questionnaire); assessment of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function (Wayne A.M. questionnaire); 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed; biochemical blood test for biomarkers of inflammation, cortisol, brain natriuretic peptide precursor, homocysteine, folliclestimulating hormone was carrued out.Results. Vegetative manifestations (asthenization, increased fatigue, meteorological dependence, headaches) were significantly more often observed in women. Among men with AH, individuals with high levels of neuropsychological tension predominated, every fifth M had a high level of occupational stress. The median scores on the Wayne A.M. questionnaire were significantly higher in women, regardless of BP, and moderate ANS disorders were significantly more prevalent. According to logistic regression data, a significant effect on the probability of AH in men was the number of stress scores (OR = 1.050; 1.029–1.171, p = 0.001), indicators of nocturnal DBP variability (OR = 1.295; 1.109–1.511, p = 0.001) and nonspecific ...