Higher stress as a discrete measure and moderate stress associated with CIS in women, but not in men
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 10, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Self-perceived stress is associated with cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS), according to a study published online March 5 in Neurology.
Shakar Kutal, from the Helsinki University Hospital, and colleagues explored the association between self-perceived stress and CIS in a study involving young patients aged 18 to 49 years with a first-ever CIS and sex- and age-matched stroke-free controls from 19 European centers (426 patients and 426 controls). A modified version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess self-perceived stress.
The researchers found that compared with controls, patients were more often at least moderately stressed (46.2 versus 33.3 percent). Higher self-perceived stress as a discrete measure was independently associated with CIS in the entire study population. There was an independent association seen between moderate stress and CIS in a categorical PSS score analysis; no independent association was seen with high stress. In women, but not in men, higher stress as a discrete measure was associated with CIS. Moderate stress was also associated with CIS in women, but not in men. Higher stress as a discrete measure was associated with CIS only in those aged 18 to 39 years when the patients were stratified by age.
“Given the potential importance of CIS in the context of early-onset strokes, understanding the role of self-perceived stress in this population may be crucial for developing more effective prevention strategies,” the authors write.
One author disclosed financial ties to Janssen.
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