Posttraumatic stress disorder is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome in an impoverished urban population

作者：Weiss Tamara; Skelton Kelly; Phifer Justine; Jovanovic Tanja; Gillespie Charles F; Smith Alicia; Umpierrez Guillermo; Bradley Bekh; Ressler Kerry J^*

来源：General Hospital Psychiatry, 2011, 33(2): 135-142.

DOI：10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.01.002

• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Depression
• African American
• Minority
• Trauma
• Child abuse
• Childhood maltreatment
• Psychiatry

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes and has increased prevalence in low-income African Americans, which constitutes a significant health disparity. The mechanisms responsible for this disparity remain unclear; the current study investigated the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and metabolic syndrome.
Method: We assessed childhood and adult trauma history, major depressive disorder, PTSD and the components of metabolic syndrome in an urban population. We recruited 245 low-socioeconomic-status, primarily African American subjects from general medical clinics in an inner-city hospital.
Results: Trauma exposure was extremely prevalent, with 90.6% of subjects reporting at least one significant trauma and 18.8% of subjects meeting criteria for current PTSD. Metabolic syndrome was also prevalent in this population (33.2%), with significantly higher rates among patients with current PTSD (47.8%, P <.05). After controlling for demographics, smoking history, antipsychotic use, depression and exercise, current PTSD remained the only significant predictor of metabolic syndrome (P=.006).
Conclusions: PTSD is associated with increased rates of metabolic syndrome within a traumatized, impoverished urban population. Further studies should investigate if PTSD treatment may reduce the rates of metabolic syndrome, improve overall health outcomes and decrease health care disparities in minority populations.

• 出版日期2011-4